Improvements in Hydraulic Rams or Apparatus for Raising Water.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Rams or Apparatus for Raising Water.
I, WILLIAM ALEXANDER RIFE, of Waynesborough, Augusta County, Virginia,
United States of America, Hydraulic 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in hydraulic rams or engines intended
for use in pumping water and it consists of certain improvements which will be
understood after referring to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or
corresponding parts are indicated by the same letters and numerals throughout the
several views.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of one form of my improved device arranged
to receive water from only one source, the hinged air chamber being tilted back,
and the delivery valve being exposed to view;
Fig. 2 represents a modified form of the device shown in Fig. 1, arranged to
receive water from two sources and with the air chamber in operative position;
Fig. 3 represents a central longitudinal section through the device shown in
Fig. 1, with attachments for receiving water from two sources, the water being
shown as entering from two sources and escaping past the escape valve;
Fig. 4 represents a similar section to that shown in Fig. 3, except that the
escape valve is now closed, and water is being delivered into the air chamber;
Fig. 5 represents a similar section to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 when the escape
valve begins to open again, and the delivery valve is closed;
Fig. 6 represents a plan view of the escape valve and its connections, as shown in
Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, parts being broken away, along the line of Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 represents a plan view of the delivery valve and its connections;
Fig. 8 represents a plan view, enlarged, of the delivery valve, the upper flap
being broken away to show the grating beneath;
Fig. 9 represents an inverted plan view of the delivery valve;
Fig. 10, represents a section of the delivery valve along the line y y of Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 represents a section of the delivery valve along the line zz of Fig. 8;
Fig. 12 represents a similar section through the base of the air chamber and
water chamber, to that shown in Figs. 3 to 5, with the device for introducing water
from the second source removed, as shown in Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 13 represents a. central longitudinal section of the device shown in Fig. 2,
with the valve in the position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 14 represents a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig 13, with the air
chamber removed, and
Fig. 15 represents a section along the line ww of Fig. 13.
The apparatus is placed below the level of the source or sources of water, which
is free to run down through the pipe A, or through the pipes A and K, as will be
hereinafter described.
A represents the drive pipe which leads down from a source of water, not shown,
for instance, a creek or river, and delivers into the water chamber B, provided with
an opening 4 beneath the chamber C enclosing the escape valve D, which valve is
attached to a pivoted arm E provided with a sliding weight E¹.
The delivery end of the water chamber B is provided with an opening 5 beneath
the delivery valve F, which is mounted on its seat in the base of the air chamber G
of Fig. 1, or G¹ of Fig. 2. At the base of this portion of the water chamber, if
the device is to be made double acting, the supply pipe K is connected as by the
elbow K2; but if the device is to be single acting, the aperture in the base of the

page_text: water chamber may be closed by a plate K³ bolted over the said aperture as shown
in Figs. 1 and 12, or by inserting a common plug Ko, as shown in Fig. 13.
M represents a check valve mounted on a valve seat in the pipe coupling K', and
moving vertically in suitable guides M¹.
N represents an overflow pipe connected to the supply pipe K by which a steady
flow of water is kept through said pipe.
0 represents a small air hole in the water chamber B near the upper part
thereof.
H represents a T coupling by which the delivery pipe H is connected to the
base of the air chamber G.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
If the device is to be driven by one source of water and to pump water from a
purer source, the water from the creek or river or other impure source which we
shall call the muddy water, flows down through the pipe A and escapes through
the opening over the escape valve D, and at the same time the water from the
spring or purer source, which we shall call the clean water, runs down the pipe K
entering the water chamber by the open ng 6 and unites with the muddy water
flowing through the opening 7 in the valve chamber C. This is represented in
Fig. 3.
When the pressure of the escaping current of water flowing upwards is
sufficient to lift the valve D against its seat, the escape of the water through
the valve is then stopped and the momentum of, the moving mass of muddy
water coming through the pipe A forces backward the clear water which has
meantime filled the part 2 of the water chamber causing it to lift the valve F
and to be forced into the air chamber, at the same time the backward pressure
of the water forces the valve M down on its seat, and the clear water is
prevented from moving backwards through the opening 6 into the pipe K, all
as shown in Fig. 4. The water coming down the pipe K would also be stopped
like that coming down the pipe A as shown in Fig. 5, were it not for the
overflow pipe N, through which the water coming down the pipe K is diverted
and thus a continuous stream down the said pipe K is maintained. When the
pressure in the air chamber becomes greater than that of the water flowing down
the pipe A, the valve F closes, at which time the water in the lower portion 1
of the water chamber eddies backwards as shown by the arrows in Fig. 5, and the
pressure upwards on the valve D being temporarily relieved the weight of the
valve D, and of the weighted armn E causes the valve D to open once more; and
then water in the pipe A flowing down again under the influence of the
gravity escapes through the opening 7 over the valve D once more until the
pressure upwards is sufficient to lift the valve and to close it again when the before
mentioned operation is repeated.
When the muddy water in the part 1 of the water chamber begins to regurgitate,
as shown in Fig. 5, the pressure of the clear water in the pipe K lifts the check
valve M, and the water running down from the overflow pipe N, and also through
the pipe K, re-establishes the flow of clear water into the upper end of the water
chamber, and replaces in the water chamber the amount of clear water just driven
into the air chamber. This new supply of clear water runs towards the escape
valve as shown in Fig. 3, but about the time the clear water begins to escape
through the valve D that valve closes and the clear water is forced back again
as before. By means of the air pressure in the air chamber, the water is forced
continuously out through the pipe H' to the point of consumption. In this way
the power of the creek or river water is used to force the spring water into the
air chamber; and the clear water alone is delivered, the muddy water discharging
itself at a lower point distant from where the clear water enters the air chamber;
at which points, where the muddy water used as power, and the clear water
delivered, are at all times kept separate from each other by natural law without
the intervention of any diaphragms or pistons, or other complicated apparatus
for keeping the two apart.

page_text: The small part of the clear water that mixes with the muddy water during the
backward movement of the latter escapes through the aperture 7 just before the
escape valve closes.
In order to obtain the proper cushion in the air chamber a small orifice o for
admitting air into the upper portion of the water chamber is provided. As the
water in the upper portion of the chamber B regurgitates as shown in Fig. 5,
upon the closing of the valve F a partial vacuum is created underneath said valve,
which is partly filled by the influx of air through the said hole o. As soon as
the valve F is forced open again, these bubbles of air that have been caught
beneath the valve rise up into the upper part of the air chamber G as shown
in Fig. 4, and thus preserve the necessary air supply in the said chamber.
This aperture o though small, is made of such size that it may supply the
amount of air carried off by the water, an appreciable part of the enclosed air
under pressure being absorbed by the water delivered through the pipe H¹.
When it is desired to operate the device as a single acting ram, the pipe K
and its attachments, such as the valve seat K', the coupling K², and the
thimble kare detached, and a plate K³ is secured over the opening 6 in the
water chamber B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 12. Or instead of detaching these
various portions, a valve may be provided as at K', shown in dotted lines in
Fig. 4, by means of which the pipe K may be closed and thus the ingress of
water from that side of the machine may be avoided. The operation of the
device when single-acting is as follows:-
The water flowing down the pipe A, as before, passes over the valve D and
escapes through the aperture 7 in the chamber C until sufficient suction is created
by the escaping current to lift the valve against its own weight and that of the
weighted arm E, causing it to close the said escape opening 7. The flow of the
water through the opening 7 being checked, the momentum of the mass of water
coming down the pipe Clifts the valve F and the water flows into the chamber G,
until there is sufficient air pressure therein to counteract the pressure of the water
flowing down the pipe A, when the valve F will fall upon its seat and the moving
mass of water will be stopped. As soon as the flow of water into the chamber B
is stopped, there will be a re-action of the water outwards towards the pipe A,
and during the temporary relief of pressure the escape valve will fall and the water
will soon begin to escape through the orifice 7.
Since the air hole o and valve F are above the orifice 7 at the beginning of the
escape of water, there will be a slight downward flow of the water in the part 2 of
the water chamber, causing a partial vacuum beneath the valve F which will be
filled by air rushing in through the hole o and thus the necessary fresh supply of
air is automatically injected into the air chamber. By adjusting the weight on the
pivoted bar so that the valve D may require greater or less lifting pressure to lift
it, the length of the stroke may be varied, and hence the velocity of the water in
the pipe A.
It will be obvious that when the velocity of the water in the pipe A is great,
the force of the blow given when the valve D is closed will be greater than when
the velocity is small, and, therefore, the greater will be the force expended in
pushing up the water in the part 2 of the water chamber and hence the longer the
time the valve F will remain open, and the greater the supply of water per stroke
that will be delivered into the air chamber. Thus by making the strokes fewer,
which is done by adjusting the weight on the pivoted bar, a greater pressure is
obtained in the air chamber and consequently the water is forced to a higher position
through the pipe H'.
In Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, the length of the vibrations of the valve D are also
adjusted by the hand-wheel 31 carried by the screw 30 which projects upward
through the aperture e³ in the pivoted bar E, and is provided at its lower end with
a screw thread which engages in the projection 34 and is held in position by nuts 32
and 33.
The bar E is pivoted on an arm projecting from the chamber C and is provided

page_text: with a vertical longitudinal rib on which the weight E slides, and on which it is
clamped by means of the clamp screw e¹.
In the form of device shown in Figs. 2, 13, and 14, the sliding weight E is
mounted on the upper and perforated one of the pair of bars E2 and E³, which bars
are connected together at 6, and are pivoted at e, the valve stem d² of the valve D₁
being attached to the lower bar E2. The weight E is secured by means of the
pin which passes down in one of the perforations in the said bar E³ and is thus
adjusted at any desired position on the said bar.
Having thus described the general construction and operation of the single and
double acting ram, I will proceed to describe in detail certain novel features by
which increased efficiency or economy, or both, are obtained.
Since it is desirable in frequent instances, to mount the apparatus on rocky sites,
and since the relative positions of the creek or river, and of the spring, may vary
very materially, and also for other reasons, it becomes necessary to have the various
pipes leading to or from the ram so arranged that they may be pointed in different
directions.
For this reason, the couplings H and K2 connecting the supply pipe K and the
delivery pipe H to the apparatus, are provided with screw-threaded thimbles or
nipples and screwed into the base vertically, which allow the said couplings and
pipes to be readily led out at any desired angle.
The drive pipe A is similarly arranged, and connected to the water chamber B
by a coupling A provided with an arc-shaped flange a slotted as at a, and held to
the corresponding arc-shaped flange of the water chamber by the bolts a¹. A
rubber or leather gasket a² is interposed between these members to make a tight
joint.
It will be seen that the inclination of the drive pipe A may be varied within the
limits of the slot a, and thus it may conveniently be adapted to receive water at any
incline from a higher or a lower source.
Another method of varying the angle of elevation of the drive pipe, is shown to
the left of Fig. 13, where two rings A³ deeper at one side a³ than at the opposite a*,
are interposed between the coupling A2 and the water chamber B¹.
It will be seen that if the rings be placed obversely, as shown in Fig. 13, that
they will be equivalent to a single ring of uniform thickness, while if one of the
said rings be revolved through 180° the effect of a wedge-shaped annular gasket
will be obtained, and by adjusting the rings in the intermediate positions, the
elevation of the pipe A may be varied within certain predetermined limits.
It is very important that some simple manner of adjusting the elevation of the
drive pipe to the various conditions of the place where the ram is to be used should
be provided.
In order to facilitate the flow of water into the air chamber, to limit the
necessary travel of the delivery valve as much as possible, and to prevent it from
becoming choked or clogged up in any way, I preferably use the form of valve
shown in detail in Figs. 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
In all figures the delivery valve proper is marked F. The main portion con-
sisting of a vertical hollow stem or sleeve", terminating at its lower end and in an
annular flange, which is perforated with parts or water passages, as will be herein-
after described with other contiguous parts which are securely connected by means
of the bolt passing up through the centre provided with a nut on top of stem or
sleeve.
This valve F is revoluble, and is held in a proper rotating and vertical vibrating
position by means of a valve cage, which cage consists of a cylindrical shell 15, a
part of which is the spider 10 having downwardly projecting legs. 11, which legs
rest upon one of the lower steps 13 of the valve seat 12. The cage is securely
fastened to the valve seat by means of two bolts 17, the heads of which engage in
slots in each side or edge of the valve seat passing up through the lugs 16 with nuts
on top of valve cage as shown in Fig. 7.
The upper portion of the valve seat is a flat annular surface 14 dropping in

page_text: steps as at 13, and is securely fastened down by the tap bolts through each corner
into the base plate 3 as shown in Fig. 1.
The valve proper consists first of the combined sleeve and ring already
mentioned, a second solid annular portion f2 forming the bottom of the valve, and
the annular flap 20, and the perforated annular gasket 26. The annular flap 20,
preferably made of leather, rests on the annular shoulder 21, of the part, and on
the ribs 22 and 23 which form a circular gridiron-like arrangement connecting the
inner and outer parts of the ring between the flap 20 and the gasket 26. The
ribs 22 extend through the depth of the said ring, while the ribs 23 form a perforated
platform or support to relieve the flap 20 from downward pressure from above.
Ports 24 extend through the valve and the gasket 26, to the base of the flap 20,
but are divided in their upper portion by the ribs 23 already referred to.
The ring, which also serves as a washer, for the gasket 26, is perforated in
the line of the parts already referred to, and the inner and outer parts of the ring
are connected together by ribs 25, which are curved at their outer ends, as shown
in Fig. 9. The function of these ribs is that as the valve is lifted, it being
revolubly mounted in the spider 10, the pressure of the water passing through
underneath the valve, acting on these helicoidal ribs 25, will cause the valve to
revolve through a small angle at each stroke, and thus the wear on the gasket 26,
and on the valve seat, will be made uniform.
By the herein-described construction of valve, not only will the water flow
radially from beneath the valve when it is lifted, but it will flow up through the
port 24, lifting the flap 20, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, and escaping through
the valve itself into the air chamber. In this way the requisite travel of the valve
is materially lessened, and the pounding of the valve on its seat is to a certain extent,
avoided.
By having the valve seat cut away as shown, and having the spider legs rest on
the lower annular step of the valve seat, at some distance from the periphery of
the valve proper, the flow of water from under the valve having less surface exposed to
frictional contact, is also facilitated and by placing the spider legs 11 below and at
some distance from the valve, any particles of grass, weeds, sticks, &c., which might
lodge against the surface of the said legs, are kept clear of the valve seat, and
hence the possibility of the escape of water from the air chamber down through the
valve or beneath the same is, to a large degree, avoided.
These various features tending to ensure the close contact of the valve on its seat,
are of great importance, since any material leakage back through the valve largely
impairs the efficiency of the device.
In order that the valve F may be accessible for examination and repair, the air
chamber G is preferably hinged as at g¹ to the plate 3 projecting from the water
chamber.
The air chamber G is attached to the said plate 3 by means of bolts or tap
rivets g2 passing through the flange on the ring 9. A rubber gasket g³ is interposed
between the base of the air chamber 6 and the said plate 3.
In the form of device shown in Figs. 2 and 13, bolts 9', hooked as at g³, and
passing through lugs g' at the top of the air chamber, are screwed down with nuts gº,
thus firmly holding the said air chamber in place.
In the form of device shown in Fig. 13, the escape valve D' is attached by means
of the valve stem 2 to the pivoted bars E and E³. The lower portion of the said
valve stem is turned down, or a sleeve may be put upon the upper end if desired,
and then passes through the washers 52 and 53, which compress between them the
rubber disk 51, which strikes against the under side of the valve seat, as the valve
closes.
In this form of valve, however, and in those forms most generally in use, no
adequate provision is made for the unequal wear of the valve on the seat.
In order to provide a means of adjusting the valve for this inequality of wear, I
preferably construct the valve as shown in Figs. 3 to 6.

page_text: Referring especially to Figs. 4 and 6, the valve D is connected by a cruciform
piece d, flanged top and bottom as shown at d' and 40 to the pivoted bar E.
The lower flange 40 is in the form of a circular plate provided with bolt holes
through which pass the bolts 47 holding together the central rubber disk 43, and
the plates 44 and 45 forming the back of the valve.
Exterior to this circular plate 40, an annular disk 41 is mounted over the broader
annular disk or rubber ring 42, and is held in place thereon by the bolts 46 passing
entirely through the valve, and provided on their upper ends with angular nuts 47.
These nuts are ordinarily screwed down compressing the rubber ring 42
somewhat.
Now, if for any cause this rubber ring wears more at one part than at another,
if the nuts 47 near the worn part, are screwed down firmly, the rubber beneath
them will be compressed. raising the periphery of the valve at that side, and with
very little difficulty any slight wear may be thus compensated for.
Should the wear on the greater part of the valve prove to be more than on any
limited portion than by easing up on the nuts 46 near the portion not worn, part of
the rubber will tend to recede under that side of the flange 40, and thus compensa-
tion will again be had.
Should it be desired to shift the valve end for end, the bolts 47 or 48 may be
eased up and taken out and the valve turned around and then put back in place.
By this improved construction a simple and convenient means of adjusting the
valve without taking the valve apart, is obtained.
These, and other advantages of the herein described construction, would readily
suggest themselves to anyone skilled in the art.
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 :-
First. The improved construction of double acting hydraulic ram, substantially
as herein described with reference to Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings hereunto
annexed.
Second. The improved form of water chamber B arranged with water ontlets
and inlets, and air inlet, and elevated end, substantially as herein described and
shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Third. The construction of the escape valve D and the method of adjusting
the same to the valve seat, substantially as herein described and shewn in
Figures 2 to 6.
Fourth. The construction of the delivery valve F substantially as herein
described and shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Fifth. The combination and arrangement of the delivery valve F, the cage
enclosing said valve, and the valve seat, substantially as herein described and shewn
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 30th day of June 1893.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.