IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPING APPARATUs WORKED BY HYDRAULIC PRESSure
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Davey, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Engincer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPING APPARATUs
WORKED BY HYDRAULIC PRESSure."
Sealed the 25th March 1875, and dated the 28th January 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Davey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th January 1875.
I, HENRY DAVEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer, do.
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PUMPING APPARATUS WORKED BY HYDRAULIC PRESSURE," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the construction, arrangement, and mode of
working pumping apparatus by hydraulic pressure instead of rods or
other rigid connections, in such a manner as to render the said apparatus
conveniently applicable in the sinking of wells, pits, or shafts, and in
the pumping of mines or of water generally from low levels.
:

page_text: In sinking wells, pits, or shafts it is often necessary to raise for the
purpose of repair the buckets and valves of the pumps employed, and
when these pumps are worked by rods or spears great trouble and delay
are involved in undoing them length by length and replacing them.
In order to obviate this inconvenience I construct and operate pumping
apparatus for such purposes in the following manner:-At the top of
the shaft I provide a set of pumps forcing water into an accumulator at
a pressure considerably above that due to the lift from the bottom of
the shaft, or instead of such accumulator a reservoir supplied from a
natural head when such is available may be employed. From this
accumulator I carry a pipe down the shaft by the side of the delivery
pipe from the pump in the shaft. This pump I make with a tubular
plunger presenting at its upper part an annular area in excess of its
lower part. On the top of the plunger are mounted the delivery valves,
the suction valves being fitted at the bottom of the cylinder in which
the plunger works.
The high-pressure pipe above mentioned communicates by two branches
with the interior of this cylinder, the one branch being situated just
below the head of the plunger at its bottom stroke, and the other branch
being situated just above the plunger head at its top stroke.
In the high-pressure pipe facing the last-named branch is fitted a
tubular valve, the lower mouth of which is fitted with a valve opening
downwards. This valve is connected by a rod, chain, or wire rope
carried up the high-pressure pipe, and is worked by any convenient
reciprocating movement at the top of the shaft. When by the down
upper branch
stroke of this rod, chain, or rope the valves are let down the
of the high-pressure pipe is closed, and the lower branch is placed in.
communication with the accumulator. The high-pressure water then
acting on the annular area of the pump plunger causes it to make its
up stroke, drawing water into the cylinder through the suction valves,
and raising the water contained in the up delivery pipe. At the up
stroke of the valves in the high-pressure pipe, the communication with
the accumulator is cut off and the upper branch of the pressure pipe is
brought into communication with the lower branch. The plunger being
thus equilibrated in respect of pressure descends by its own weight
displacing the water below it which passes through its delivery valves,
When the plunger has reached the bottom of its stroke the action is
repeated. The plunger is attached to a chain or rope which is carried.
.

page_text: up the vertical delivery pipe, and may be connected to a lever or drum
at the top of the shaft which may be counterbalanced as desired. The
pressure valves may be worked from such lever or drum or from the
rope or chain connected to it, and the movement may be imparted
through a differential lever action, such as is described in the Specifications
of Patents granted to me on the 1st February 1871, No. 277, and on
the 4th June 1874, No. 1943, so as to regulate the speed and pause of
the plunger in its working.
When the plunger or valves require repair the plunger with the
delivery valves on it is drawn up the vertical delivery pipe by means of
the chain or rope above mentioned. At the same time the suction valves
are drawn up, their seatings being attached to a rod having a collar on
its upper end so arranged that as the plunger is raised above its usual
stroke the said seating is made to follow it. In order in such case to
relieve the plunger of the load of water in the pipe above it, I provide at
the bottom of the pressure pipe a valve which can be opened to allow
the said water to escape. The pressure valves are likewise raised for
repair by means of the rod, chain, or rope which works them, and the
raising of these valves effects the opening of the relief valve above
mentioned.
In applying a like mode of action to pumps situated at low levels or in
mines, wells, or pits, I employ the following arrangement :-I place two
pump cylinders with their axes in one straight line. Between them I
place a quadruple valve box which I will presently describe, from cach
side of which box projects a tube passing through packing into the
interior of the hollow plunger of each pump. The said interior is
alternately supplied from the valve box with water under pressure
considerably exceeding that of the column to be lifted by the pumps, so
that when it is so supplied the plunger is thereby forced away from the
valve box, and into the cylinder of the pump, causing the water to be
discharged therefrom. The two plungers are connected by tie rods,
so that while the one is making its forward stroke under the influence of
the high-pressure water, the other is making its back stroke, the valves
being so arranged as at that time to relieve the pressure in the latter
plunger. Thus, the two pumps alternately draw in and discharge water.
The quadruple valve box is divided by horizontal and vertical partitions
into compartments in which are fitted four cylindrical valves of differential
area, their larger ends are always under the pressure of the delivery pipe

page_text: from the pumps, while their smaller ends are alternately subjected to
and relieved from the high pressure which works the pumps. This
alternate action of the high pressure on the valves is governed by a
small slide worked by a cataract piston to which, by preference, is applied
the differential regulating action described in the Specifications above
referred to, the said cataract piston serving also to govern the speed and
pause of the pumps.
The high-pressure water after having been admitted as above described
into the two plungers alternately, and having caused them to make their
respective strokes escapes into the ascending main, so that its effective ]
working pressure is the difference between the pressure at which it is
supplied and that of the delivery from the pumps.
In many cases it happens in miñes or shafts that pumps cannot be .
safely arranged at the lower or suction level without being subject to
stoppage by flooding. In such cases I prefer to arrange a set of pumps 1
as low as is safe so as to effect the greater portion of the lift, and below
them a set such as I have described above, which have the function of
delivering the water from the lowest level to the higher set of pumps.
The said lowest pumps being worked by the pressure of the delivery
from the highest set may go on working even when they are flooded;
they may however be enclosed in a water-tight chamber accessible by a
shaft from the chamber of the upper pumps, and thus be kept free
from the flooding to which the bottom of the main shaft might be
subjected.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 25
filed by the said Henry Davey in the Great Scal Patent Offico
on the 27th July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
DAVEY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engincer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 30
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Davey, Her special

page_text: license, that I, the said Henry Davey, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Davey, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PUMPING APPARATUS WORKED BY HYDRAULIC PRESSURE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Davey, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and scals, 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
Offico within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Davey, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner- the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheets of Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to the construction, arrangement, and mode of
working pumping apparatus by hydraulic pressure, instead of rods or
other rigid connections in such a manner as to render the said apparatus
conveniently applicable in the sinking of wells, pits, or shafts, and in
the pumping of mines or of water generally from low levels.
In sinking wells, pits, or shafts it is often necessary to raise for the
purpose of repair the buckets and valves of the pumps employed, and
when these pumps are worked by rods or spears great trouble and delay
are involved in undoing them length by length, and replacing them.
In order to obviate this inconvenience I construct and operate pumping
apparatus for such purposes in the following manner:-At the top of
the shaft I provide a set of pumps forcing water into an accumulator at
a pressure considerably above that due to the lift from the bottom of the
shaft, or instead of such accumulator a reservoir supplied from a natural
head, when such is available, may be employed. From this accumulator
I carry a pipe down the shaft by the side of the delivery pipe from the

page_text: '
pump in the shaft. This pump I make with a tubular plunger presenting
at its upper part an annular area in excess of its lower part. On the top
of the plunger are mounted the delivery valves, the suction valves being
fitted at the bottom of the cylinder in which the plunger works.
The high-pressure pipe above mentioned communicates by two
branches with the interior of this cylinder, the one branch being
situated just below the head of the plunger at its bottom stroke, and
the other branch being situated just above the plunger head at its top
stroke.
In the high-pressure pipe facing the last named branch is fitted a
tubular valve, the lower mouth of which is fitted with a valve opening
downwards. This valve is connected by a rod, chain, or wire rope
carried up the high-pressure pipe, and is worked by any convenient
reciprocating movement at the top of the shaft. When by the down
stroke of this rod, chain, or rope the valves are let down the upper
branch of the high-pressure pipe is closed, and the lower branch is
placed in communication with the accumulator. The high-pressure
water then acting on the annular area of the pump plunger causes it to
make its up stroke, drawing water into the cylinder through the suction
valves, and raising the water contained in the up delivery pipe. At the
up stroke of the valves in the high-pressure pipe the communication with
the accumulator is cut off, and the upper branch of the pressure pipe is
brought into communication with the lower branch. The plunger being
thus equilibrated in respect of pressure descends by its own weight,
displacing the water below it, which passes through its delivery valves.
When the plunger has reached the bottom of its stroke the action is
repeated. The plunger is attached to a chain or rope which is carried
up the vertical delivery pipe, and may be connected to a lever or drum
at the top of the shaft, which may be counterbalanced as desired. The
pressure valves may be worked from such lever or drum or from the rope
or chain connected to it, and the movement may be imparted through
a differential lever action such as is described in the Specifications of
Patents granted to me on the 1st February 1871, No. 277, and on the
4th June 1874, No. 1943, so as to regulate the speed and pause of the
plunger in its working.
When the plunger or valves require repair the plunger, with the
delivery valves on it, is drawn up the vertical delivery pipe by means of

page_text: the chain or rope above mentioned. At the same time the suction
valves are drawn up their seatings, being attached to a rod having a
collar on its upper end so arranged that as the plunger is raised above its
usual stroke the said seating is made to follow it. In order in such case
to relieve the plunger of the load of water in the pipe above it I provide
at the bottom of the pressure pipe a valve, which can be opened to allow
the said water to escape. The pressure valves are likewise raised for
repair by means of the rod, chain, or rope which works them, and the
raising of theso valves effects the opening of the relief valve above
mentioned.
In applying a like mode of action to pumps situated at low levels or
in mines, wells, or pits, I employ the following arrangement:-I place
two pump cylinders with their axes in one straight line. Between them
I place a quadruple valve box, which I will presently describe, from
cach side of which box projects a tube passing through packing into the
interior of the hollow plunger of each pump. The said interior is
alternately supplied from the valve box with water under pressure
considerably exceeding that of the coloumn to be lifted by the pumps, so
that when it is so supplied the plunger is thereby forced away from the
valve box and into the cylinder of the pump, causing the water to be
discharged therefrom. The two plungers are connected by tie rods, so
that while the one is making its forward stroke under the influence of
the high-pressure water the other is making its back stroke, the valves
being so arranged as at that time to relieve the pressure in the latter
plunger. Thus the two pumps alternately draw in and discharge water.
The quadruple valve box is divided by horizontal and vertical partitions
into compartments, in which are fitted four cylindrical valves of differ-
ential area; their larger ends are always under the pressure of the
delivery pipe from the pumps, while their smaller ends are alternately
subjected to and relieved from the high pressure which works the
pumps.
This alternate action of the high pressure on the valves is
governed by a small slide worked by a cataract piston, to which by
preference is applied the differential regulating action described in the
Specifications above referred to, the said cataract piston serving also to
govern the speed and pause of the pumps.
.
The high-pressure water, after having been admitted as above
described, into the two plungers alternately, and having caused them to
make their respective strokes, escapes into the ascending main, so that

page_text: is turned partly round by its counterweight, and this movement of the
drum communicated through the differential gear to the rod g draws it
upwards, so that when a has made its up stroke the valve G is seated,
and then by the farther ascent of the slide F is drawn up so as to
uncover the mouth of the branch E. The lower part C of the pipe B
being thus relieved from the pressure existing above G, and the pressure
above and below the plunger head a¹ being equilibrated, the plunger a
descends by its weight, the suction valves c¹ closing and the delivery
valves c opening for the passage of the water from under them. The
drum H making a partial rotation backwards during the descent of a
again acting through the differential gear lowers the rod g, permitting
the slide F to descend to its seating and the valve G to open, whereupon
the plunger a is caused to make another up stroke, and so on successively.
Should the plunger a, or its packing, or the suction or delivery valves
require repair the plunger can be pulled up by the rope or chain h and
by means of a bolt c² attached to the seat of the suction valves they can
be raised along with the plunger, and farther, the annular packing a³
can be brought up, a collar a³ being for that purpose provided at the
lower end of the plunger. In like manner the slide F and valve G can
be drawn up by the rod g. A clack valve may be provided, as shewn,
at the bottom of the pipe C, connected by a loose chain to the valve G,
so that when the latter is pulled upwards beyond its usual stroke the
valve is opened and the pipes A' and B are thereby emptied of their
water, the raising of the plunger being thus facilitated. A small steam
or hydraulic engine S may be employed to turn the drum H for raising
the plunger.
i
The differential gear for working the rod g is of the kind described in
the Specifications referred to above, somewhat modified to suit the con-
ditions of the pumping apparatus. A crank or eccentric h¹ on the shaft
of the drum H is connected by rods and a bell crank to one end of a
lever I, to the middle of which is jointed the rod g; the other end of
the lever I is jointed to a rod connected to two pistons working
respectively in cylinders J and K. The lower cylinder J has a slide j
worked by a link and lever i from the lever I, and is supplied with water
under pressure; the other cylinder K charged with liquid acts as a
cataract or retarding cylinder, having a communication from one end to
the other controlled by a valve k so that the flow of liquid from the one
end to the other can be regulated as desired to govern the speed of the

page_text: piston in K. When the plunger a makes its up stroke the heavy side of
the drum H descends, partly turning the crank h¹ and raising the one
end of the lever I, and thereby partly raising the valve rod g and the
slide j. Water under pressure being thus admitted under the piston of J
raises that piston and with it the other end of the lever I, thereby farther
raising the rod g, but this rise of the rod is moderated by the resistance
of the liquid in the cylinder K to the movement of its piston. The
valve rod g being thus raised, closing the valve G and raising the slide F,
the plunger a, as already described, descends, turning the drum H
backwards and causing the one end of the lever I to descend, but as the
other end of that lever continues for a time to ascend its middle with
the rod continues stationary, or nearly so, until the slide ; so far
descends as to cause the piston in J to make its down stroke, whereupon
both ends of the lever I descending the rod 9 also descends, closing F
and opening G; the plunger a now moving upwards the crank h begins
to raise the one end of the lever I, but the other end still moving down-
wards the rod remains stationary, or nearly so, until the slide j is so
far shifted as to reverse the movement of the piston in J, whereupon
the action is repeated, as already described. Thus by the differential
movement of the two ends of the lever I the working of the valves F
and G is timed to the strokes of the plunger a, the speed of these strokes
and the pause between them being regulated by the adjustment of the
valve on the cataract cylinder K.
On Sheet II. is shewn a modified arrangement of this apparatus, in
which, for the operating valves F and G down in the pit is substituted
valve gear
in an accessible situation at the top of the pit. Fig. 1ª shews
a general section of the pit with a pump A of construction similar to
that already described, the pressure supply pipe B communicating with
it by a single branch E. Fig. 2ª represents to an enlarged scale a ver-
tical section of the valve gear shewn in elevation at D in Fig. 1ª. In
this case the lever L has one end moved from a crank or eccentric on
the shaft of the drum H; its other end is connected to the piston of a
cataract cylinder K, the ends of which communicate by small pipes k
with the ports of a slides worked by a bell crank with the lever L.
The middle of the lever L is connected to a sliding throttle valve T pre-
senting grated openings to grooves in the valve box D, which grooves
communicate with the pressure pipe B leading to the pump. One of
the pipes k by a branch /' communicates with a space at the bottom of

page_text: the valve box under a piston P, the rod of which is attached to a clack
valve G seating on a slide F, round which is a space communicating
with a discharge pipe M. The water under pressure is supplied by the
pipe N, from which there is a communication to the jacket of the slide 8.
By the movement of the slides the under side of the piston P is
alternately subjected to and releived from the working pressure. In the
former case this piston is in equilbrio, and the pressure then closes the
slide F against its upper scating, and opens the valve G, whereby the
water under pressure can, if the throttle valve T be open, pass to the
pipe B, and force up the plunger a of the pump A. When, on the other
hand, the under side of the piston P is releived of pressure it is forced
downwards by the pressure on its upper side, closing the valve G and
opening F, so that water from the pipe B can pass to the discharge M,
thus releiving the plunger a of pressure, and allowing it to descend.
The speed and pause of the pump so worked are regulated by the opening
and closing of the throttle valve T, which is determined by the differential
movement of the two ends of the lever L, the one end being controlled
by the piston in the cataract cylinder K, and its motion being adjusted
as required by cocks or valves in the pipes k.
The Figures on Sheet III. of the accompanying Drawings represent
the application according to my Inventiou of a like mode of action to
pumps situated at low levels in mines, wells, or pits.
Fig. 3 represents diagrammatically a section of a mine shaft, in which
a lower set of pumps A are employed to raise water to supply a higher
set B, the lower pumps A being themselves worked by the pressure of
water from the discharge C of the upper pumps communicated by a
pipe D. The upper pumps B may be worked by steam or otherwise,
being placed above the level to which water is likely to rise in the shaft,
whilst the lower pumps A being worked entirely by water pressure can
operate efficiently even when they are submerged.
Fig. 4 represents a sido view; and Fig. 5, a plan of the pumps A,
diagrammatic longitudinal section of which is shewn in Fig. 4".
a
Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical sections on the lines V,JV, and W, W, respec-
tively; and Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are sectional plans on the lines X, X, Y, Y,
Z, Z, respectively of the central valve box for these pumps, the Figures
from 6 to 10 inclusive being drawn to an enlarged scale. This valve
box, marked C in Figs. 4 and 5, is divided by horizontal partitions into

page_text: three compartments in height, the two upper compartments being
divided each into two compartments in width by vertical partitions, the
one transverse to the other, and the lowest compartment presenting four
cavities for the reception of the lower parts of four valves V₁, V³, V³, V¹.
One of the two upper compartments is supplied with water under
pressure by the inlet I from the supply pipe D, and the other communi-
cates by an outlet passage O with the discharge pipe E of the pumps.
Each of the two middle compartments has a branch R and R' extending
from it horizontally, and forming a fixed ram for one of two pumps
arranged one on each side of the valve box C. On each of the
rams R, R', is fitted to work with packing a tubular plunger P, P¹, in a
barrel F, F, which forms the pump body, and is provided with suction
and delivery valves G, G³, and H, H', respectively. The two plungers P, P',
are connected together by tie bolts S.
The arrangement of the valve box C is such that when two of the
valves diagonally opposite to one another, as for example V' and V*, are
open, while the other two valves V2, V³, are closed, water under pressure
passes from the inlet I into the branch R' and forces the plunger P¹ into
its barrel F¹, while the branch R being at the same time in commu-
nication with the outlet O, the plunger P is releived from the working
pressure and is subject only to the pressure of the discharge head E.
When again the valves V', V4, are closed V2 and V³ being opened the
plunger P is subjected to the working pressure and P¹ is relieved. Thus
by alternating the opening and the closing of the two pairs of valves
the plungers P, P₁, are caused to reciprocate, drawing water from the
well of the shaft and delivering it along with the water which is
discharged after working them by the pipe E to the supply of the upper
set of pumps B.
The alternate opening and closing of the pairs of valves is effected in
the following manner:-A small slide s worked by tappets on a rod s¹
connected to the plungers P, P¹, admits water under pressure alternately
under the valves V³, V, and V2, V3, by small pipes s³, s³, communicating
respectively with two of the lowest compartments of the valve box C,
these compartments communicating with each other by a diagonal
passages, 85, as shewn in Fig. 10, so that V¹, V', are raised together, and
V2, V3, are also raised together alternately with V', V*.
For regulating the speed and pause of the pumps differential gear
similar in its action to that already described is applied as follows:—A

page_text: plunger, and partly from a hydraulic cylinder controlled by a cataract
cylinder, substantially as herein described.
Fourth. The method substantially as herein described of pumping
shafts by the use of two sets of pumps at different levels, the lower set
being worked by the pressure of water delivered from the upper set, and
their discharge forming the supply for the upper set, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein set forth.
Fifth. The use for the lower set of pumps referred to in the preceding
claim of a middle valve box C containing four valves opened alternately
in pairs for the purpose of causing the pump plungers to reciprocate,
substantially as herein described.
Sixth. The method of governing the speed and pause of the pumps
referred to in the preceding claim by the application of differential gear
to work a throttle valve, the said differential gear being worked partly
from the pump plungers and partly from a cataract cylinder, sub-
stantially as herein described.
In witness whereof,- I, the said Henry Davey, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.