IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS AND THEIR FITTINGS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Philip Preston, John Theodore Prestige, &
Edwin James Preston, trading under the Firm of "Josiah Stone & Co.," of
High Street, Deptford, in the County of Kent, Engineers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS AND THEIR FITTINGS."
led the 12th January 1877, and dated the 13th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Philip Preston,
John Theodore Prestige, and Edwin James Preston at the Office of the Com..
missioners of Patents on the 13th July 1876.
FREDERICK PHILIP PRESTON, JOHN THEODORE PRESTIGE, & EDWIN JAMES
PRESTON, trading under the Firm of "Josiah Stone & Co.," of High Street, Dept-
ford, in the County of Kent, Engineers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS AND THEIR
FITTINGS."
The first part of our Invention relates to various alterations in the construction
of pumps, whereby their action is much improved.
In pumps of the descriptions in which two or more pistons or buckets actuated
by a crank work in one barrel or cylinder, we introduce a friction ring or roller on
each of the pump crank pins, which ring or roller we cast direct on to the said
crank pin after the crank has been properly turned, the said friction ring or roller
intervening between the crank pin and the slotted cross head, to which the crank
gives motion. By casting the friction ring or roller on to the crank pin it necessarily
exactly conforms to the shape of the said pin, and effects a saving of a great parb
of the expense of fitting up the arrangements of heart-shaped cams or antifriction
rollers hitherto used, besides working with much less friction and being much more
durable.
Sometimes instead of casting a friction ring or roller on to each pump crank pin,
as described above, we prefer to cast an ordinary slide block direct on to the pump
crank pin, and in this latter case we sometimes fit the said slide block with friction
rollers.
We also fit pumps of the descriptions already referred to with buckets having

page_text: clacks of two or more thicknesses of india-rubber with metal or wire gauze, or other
suitable insertion between them, so as to cushion the clack on both the up and
down strokes, and thus prevent noise in working to a great extent.
The second part of our Invention relates to an improvement in the deck or suction
plate ordinarily used with a Downton three-throw pump by substituting a modified
bayonet joint instead of the ordinary male and female V threads, thus considerably
shortening the time occupied in connecting and disconnecting.
The third part of our Invention relates to an improved sea cock for inlet at ship's
side to pumps, so that a clear straight passage right through is obtained, and without
any sunken recess at the bottom of the valve, as is the case in ordinary clear way
valves, which are soon choked up by seaweed and other substances filling up the
said recess.
This we accomplish by making one facing of the valve at the side in
the ordinary manner, and the other facing on the bottom of valve box, which latter
facing we prefer to make of white metal poured into a recess in the bottom of valve
box for its reception.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Philip Preston, John Theodore Prestige, and Edwin James
Preston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th January 1877.
FREDERICK PHILIP PRESTON, JOHN THEODORE PRESTIGE, and EDWIN JAMES
PRESTON, trading under the Firm of "Josiah Stone & Co., of High Street, Dept-
ford, in the County of Kent, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS AND THEIR
FITTINGS."
The first part of our Invention relates to various alterations in the construction
of pumps, whereby their action is much improved.
In pumps of the description in which two or more pistons or buckets actuated
by a crank work in one barrel or cylinder, we introduce a friction ring or roller on
each of the pump crank pins, which ring or roller we cast direct on to the said
crank pin after the crank has been properly turned, the said friction ring or roller
intervening between the crank pin and the slotted cross head to which the crank
gives motion. By casting the friction ring or roller on to the crank pin it necessarily
exactly conforms to the shape of the said pin, and effects a saving of a great part
of the expense of fitting up the arrangements of heart-shaped cains or antifriction
rollers hitherto used, besides working with much less friction and being more
durable.
Sometimes instead of casting a friction ring or roller on to each pump crank pin,
we prefer to cast an ordinary slide block direct on to the pump crank pin and in this
latter case we sometimes fit the said slide block with friction rollers.
In Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawings A is part of a crank belonging to a
pump such as above described; B is the crank pin, and C is the friction ring or
roller, which we cast direct on to the crank pin. We first turn the crank pin
true, and then cast upon it a friction ring or roller of suitable substance (hard gun
metal preferred), as shown on Drawing, the crank pin being effectually kept from
adhering to the friction ring or roller during the process of casting by covering the
crank pin with a layer or wash composed of oil and black lead, or other suitable
material.
After the friction ring or roller is cast on to the crank pin, and being secured
from adhesion in the manner above described, the said friction ring or roller
revolves freely on the said crank pin, to the shape of which it exactly conforms, and
by using the above means we can cast any description of friction ring or roller on
to a crank, so that the crank may be of a tough material, while the friction ring or
roller may be of a hard material, and so on.

page_text: We observe the same process as described above when we cast an ordinary slide
block instead of a friction ring or roller direct on to the pump crank pin.
We also fit pumps of the description above referred to with buckets having'
clacks of two or more thicknesses of india-rubber with metal or wire gauze, or other
suitable insertions between them, so as to cushion the clack on both the up and
down strokes, and thus prevent noise in working to a great extent.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 4 is a plan of a pump bucket as
above described. D, E, are two thicknesses of india-rubber, and F is the metal plate
placed between them so as to give them sufficient rigidity.
The second part of our Invention relates to an improvement in the deck or suction
plate ordinarily used with a Downton's three-throw pump, by substituting a modified
bayonet joint instead of the ordinary male and female V threads, thus considerably
shortening the time occupied in connecting and disconnecting.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 6 a plan of a suction plate as above
referred to. G are circular ridges or lips projecting beyond the surface of the suction
plate, and upon the sides of these ridges is formed a square thread with portions cut
away, allowing corresponding projections formed on the caps or nuts, to be con-
nected to the suction plate, to enter, when by turning the cap or nut round a quarter
turn to the right it is securely locked or secured to the circular ridge or lip projecting
beyond the surface of the suction.plate, and by turning it round a quarter turn to the
left it is disconnected from the said ridge or lip, the joint being made perfectly
sound by a leather washer in the nut or cap before. referred to, or other suitable
ineans.
Figures 7 and 8 are plan and sectional elevation of the nut or cap to be connected
to the suction plate.
Figure 9 is an elevation of a suction plate showing cap or nut secured to same by
our modified bayonet joint arrangement, as above described.
Sometimes we make the circular ridges or lips G cast on to the suction plate, and
sometimes we make them separately, and secure them to the suction plate by fly
nuts, bolts and nuts, or other convenient means.
The third part of our Invention relates to an improved sea cock for inlet at ship's
side to pumps and like apparatus, so that a clear straight passage right through is
obtained, and without any sunken recess at the bottom of the valve, as is the case
in ordinary clear way valves, which are soon choked up by seaweed and other sub-
stances filling up the said recess. This we accomplish by making one facing of this
valve at the side in the ordinary manner, and the other facing on the bottom of the
valve box, which latter facing we prefer to make of white metal poured into a recess
at the bottom of the valve box for its reception.
Figures 10 and 11 are sectional elevations of a valve as above described, H being
the side facing, and I the bottoni facing, against which the valve is forced, the
facing I being formed by white metal poured into the recess at bottom, or by other
suitable means, so obviating the necessity of having the sunken recess that is left at
the bottom of ordinary clear way valves.
Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of a valve made on the same principle as above,
but with the bottom containing the facing I made loose, and bolted on to the upper
part of the valve box.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we declare that we claim,-
Firstly. The casting of friction rings or rollers or slide blocks on to pump crank
pins, as and for the purpose above described.
Secondly. The construction of pump buckets in the manner above described, and
as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the annexed Drawings.
Thirdly. The fitting of suction plates as used with Downton's pumps with
modified bayonet joints, as above described, and as shown in Figure 5. of the
annexed-Drawings.
Fourthly. We claim the construction of valve cocks for inlet at ship's side

page_text: leading to pump or like apparatus, in the manner above described, and as shown in
Figures 10, 11, and 12 of the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frederick Philip Preston, John Theodore
Prestige, and Edwin James Preston, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this Twelfth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
FREDERICK PHILIP PRESTON. (L.S.)
JOHN THEODORE PRESTIGE.
EDWIN JAMES PRESTON.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)