IMPROVE- MENTS IN PUMPS USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONDENSATION STEAM
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Foster Stenson of Handsworth in the County
of Stafford Mining and Mechanical Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PUMPS USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONDENSATION
STEAM
"
OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Foster Stenson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1882.
THOMAS FOSTER STENSON of Handsworth in the County of Stafford Mining and
Mechanical Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE
CONDENSATION OF STEAM
My invention has reference to pumps in which the suction or incoming stream of
water is during a portion of the piston's lifting motion throttled or wholly cut off
for the purpose of causing the motion of the pump during that time to produce an
exhaustion superior to that produced by friction and the hanging column of water
in the suction pipe.
My said Invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of the said
pumps as hereinafter described whereby they are fitted to produce an effective
draining and exhaustion of the condenser of the steam engines by-which they are
actuated while their efficiency as pumps is but little diminished.
My invention consists further in arranging the valves in connection with the con-
denser and a hot well so that the liquids and dirt from the condenser shall not be
mixed with the fresh water being pumped but delivered separately and allowed to
run to waste. By this last described arrangement the pump is especially fitted for
feeding boilers and supplying water for various purposes free from grease and other
impurities and is also adapted as a pump for surface condensers and as an air
pump to exhaust the condenser the hot water and air from the condenser not mixing
with the cold water used for condensation
In constructing a pump according to my Invention I introduce a throttle valve
or other valve or the equivalent of a valve into the suction pipe of the pump by
the action of which valve hereinafter called the throttle valve the suction or
incoming stream of water may for a time be wholly or in part cut off the position
of the said valve in the suction pipe being varied to suit the particular purpose to
which the pump is to be applied.
The throttle valve in the suction pipe is acted upon by gearing which connects it
with the piston rod of the pump or the motive power engine driving the pump the
said gearing being so arranged as to close wholly or in part the said valve at the
required portion of the lifting stroke of the piston and opening the said valve
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page_text: during the remainder of the said stroke. The condenser has at bottom a foot valve
which opens into the delivery passage of the pump. The closing of the throttle
valve I effect ordinarily at the beginning of the lifting stroke of the piston. There
is thereby produced an exhaustion greater than that in the condenser the foot valve
of the condenser opens and the water and vapour contained in it pass into the
.delivery passage of the pump the pump during this portion of the piston's stroke
acting as an air pump and exhausting the condenser.
The throttle valve being opened the pump now acts as an ordinary pump; that
is water rises, the exhaustion in the pump cylinder being diminished the foot
valve of the condenser closes and the pump during the remainder of the stroke
lifts water and fills the pump cylinder in the usual way. By the reverse or delivery
stroke of the piston the water in the cylinder is forced through the delivery valve
into the air vessel and from thence into the delivery pipe.
Instead of using a throttle valve as described for the purpose of arresting the
stream of suction or incoming water, the ordinary suction valve of the pump may
..be utilized and made to perform the functions of the said throttle valve. In this
case the suction valve is closed by the action of gearing during the required portion
of the piston's stroke and afterwards liberated so as to perform during the
remainder of the pistons stroke the function of an ordinary suction valve.
When it is desired to separate the water and air drawn from the condenser and
to deliver them into a separate vessel other than that which receives the bulk of the
water pumped I proceed as follows :-I divide the stroke of the piston on the
delivery side into two portions having distinct functions. Under the foot valve of
the condenser and also under an auxiliary delivery valve I provide a chamber at
a level higher than that of the main delivery valve The hot water and air froin
the condenser remain in this chamber and do not descend into the pump cylinder
during the suction stroke as their specific gravity is less than that of cold water.
When the piston begins its return or delivery stroke the first effect is to discharge
the impure hot water and air into an ordinary hot well through the said auxiliary
valve, which it does in preference to forcing them through the main delivery valve
in consequence of the resistance in the hot well being less than that in the delivery
pipe. After the piston has moved through such a portion of the stroke as is
necessary to drive out the hot water and impurities, the auxiliary valve in the hot
well is closed by suitable mechanism leaving the remainder of the contents of the
pump that is cold water to be discharged into the delivery pipe through the main
delivery valve. The valve in the hot well is temporarily closed or throttled by
mechanism somewhat similar to that which closes the suction pipe for the required
portion of the stroke.
This arrangement of valves and passages renders it easy to cause a circulating
pump for surface condensers to perform the duties of an air pump without heating
the circulating water or mixing impurities with it.
The said arrangement of valves and passages may also be used when one pump
is required to draw water or other fluids from two or more separate sources in given
equal or unequal proportions and to deliver the same into two or more separate
receptacles in previously ascertained equal or unequal proportions I also where
desirable close the inlet branch of the pump for an occasional complete stroke and
so cause the pump to act as an air pump only during that occasional stroke and as
a common pump only during the majority of its strokes. Thus by means of a
revolving cam driven from the fly wheel shaft of a pumping engine an ordinary
pump may have its inlet branch for cold water closed for one stroke in four making
it perform as an air pump during that one stroke and leaving it at liberty to act
as a cold water pump during the remaining three strokes. The pump cylinder is
thus kept cool making it more efficient as an air pump. The last described
arrangement is well adapted for small donkey pumps.
My invention is applicable to double acting as well as to single acting pumps.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Foster Stenson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st June 1883.
THOMAS FOSTER STENSON of Handsworth in the County of Stafford, Mining and
Mechanical Engineer " IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE
CONDENSATION OF STEAM,"
My invention has reference to pumps in which the suction or incoming stream
of water is during a portion of the piston's lifting motion throttled or wholly cut
off for the purpose of causing the motion of the pump during that time to produce
an exhaustion superior to that produced by friction and the hanging column of
water in the suction pipe.
My said invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of the said
pumps as hereinafter described, whereby they are fitted to produce an effective
draining and exhaustion of the condenser of the steam engines by which they are
actuated, while their efficiency as pumps is but little diminished.
My invention consists further in arranging the valves in connection with the
condenser and a hot well so that the liquids and dirt from the condenser shall not
be mixed with the fresh water being pumped but delivered separately and allowed
to run to waste. By this last described arrangement the pump is especially fitted
for feeding boilers and supplying water for various purposes free from grease and
other impurities and is also adapted as a pump for surface condensers and as an
air pump to exhaust the condenser, the hot water and air from the condenser not
mixing with the cold water used for condensation.
In constructing a pump according to my invention, I introduce a throttle valve
or other valve, or the equivalent of a valve, into the suction pipe of the pump by the
action of which valve hereinafter called the throttle valve the suction or incoming
stream of water may for a time be wholly or in part cut off, the position of the
said valve in the suction pipe being varied to suit the particular purpose to which
the pump is to be applied.
The throttle valve in the suction pipe is acted upon by gearing which connects
it with the piston rod of the pump or the motive power engine driving the pump,
the said gearing being so arranged as to close wholly or in part the said valve at
the required portion of the lifting stroke of the piston and opening the said valve
during the remainder of the said stroke. The condenser has at bottom a foot
valve which opens into the delivery passage of the pump.
The closing of the throttle valve I effect ordinarily at the beginning of the lifting
stroke of the piston. There is thereby produced an exhaustion greater than that
in the condenser, the foot valve of the condenser opens and the water and vapour
contained in it pass into the delivery passage of the pump the pump during
this portion of the piston's stroke acting as an air pump and exhausting the
condenser.
The throttle valve being opened the pump now acts as an ordinary pump, that is,
water rises, the exhaustion in the pump cylinder being diminished the foot valve
of the condenser closes and the pump during the remainder of the stroke lifts
water and fills the pump cylinder in the usual way. By the reverse or delivery
stroke of the piston the water in the cylinder is forced through the delivery valve
into the air vessel and from thence into the delivery pipe.
Instead of using a throttle valve as described for the purpose of arresting the
stream of suction or incoming water, the ordinary suction valve of the pump may
be utilized and made to perform the functions of the said throttle valve. In this
case the suction valve is closed by the action of gearing during the required portion
1

page_text: of the piston's stroke and afterwards liberated so as to perform during the remainder
of the piston's stroke the function of an ordinary suction valve."
When it is desired to separate the water and air drawn from the condenser and
to deliver them into a separate vessel other than that which receives the bulk of
the water pumped, I proceed as follows:-I divide the stroke of the piston on the
delivery side into two portions having distinct functions. Under the foot valve of
the condenser and also under an auxiliary delivery valve I provide a chamber.
The hot water and air from the condenser remain in this chamber and do not.
descend into the pump cylinder during the suction stroke as their specific gravity
is less than that of the cold water.
When the piston begins its return or delivery stroke, the first effect is to
discharge the impure hot water and air into an ordinary hot well through the said
auxiliary valve which it does in préference to forcing them through the main
delivery valve in consequence of the resistance in the hot well being less than that
in the delivery pipe. After the piston has moved through such a portion of the
stroke as is necessary to drive out the hot water and impurities, the auxiliary valve
in the hot well is closed by suitable mechanism leaving the remainder of the
contents of the pump, that is, cold water to be discharged into the delivery pipe
through the main delivery valve. The valve in the hot well is temporarily closed
or throttled by mechanisin somewhat similar to that which closes the suction pipe
for the required portion of the stroke.
This arrangement of valves and passages renders it easy to cause a circulating
pump for surface condensers to perform the duties of an air pump without heating
the circulating water or mixing impurities with it. The said arrangement of
valves and passages may also be used when one pump is required to draw water or
other fluids from two or more separate sources in given equal or unequal proportions
and to deliver the same into two or more separate receptacles in previously
ascertained equal or unequal proportions.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings
the manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal vertical section and Figure 2 in cross section
a portion of a steam pump constructed according to my invention.
The construction and combination of parts represented in Figures 1 and 2 exhibit
the pumping, throttling and condensing apparatus as well as the arrangement for
separating the water of condensation from the bulk of the water pumped.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both Figures; a is the
ram or plunger of the pump working through a stuffing box in the barrel or
cylinder of the pump as usual. The said pump is provided with the
ordinary suction valve c and delivery valve d. In addition to the ordinary valves
c and d there are combined in the pump a foot valve e opening downwards out of
the condenser f of the engine by which the pump is driven, and an auxiliary
delivery valve g opening upwards into a hot well h. There are also two throttle
valves j and ⁄ of the piston equilibrium type, the valve j throttling the suction
pipe o and the other valve throttling the delivery passage into the hot well h.
Besides the condenser f and hot well h an air vessel provided with a delivery
pipe mis placed on the top of the pump and the condenser fhas an injection pipe
and an exhaust steam branch.p. The hot well h has an overflow pipe n.
throttle valves and k are each under the control of a lever 9 and rods m², m³
governed by an excentric, cam, tappet or other gearing in connection with the
driving shaft of the pump. The connection of the rods m³, m³ with the governing
agents is not shown in the Drawing but the gearing is so arranged as to time the
opening and closing of the throttle valves j, kc according to the position of the
stroke of the ram or piston a after the manner in which the expansion valves in
the steam pipe of a steam engine are timed to admit and cut off steam at certain
given portions of the stroke of the piston.
The action of the pump is as follows:-
The
1. When the ram'a begins to make its lifting stroke the suction valve c is free to

page_text: open in the usual manner, but the ingress of the water into the pump barrel or
cylinder bis prevented by the throttle valve j which at this portion of the stroke
of the ram is timed by the gearing to remain closed. While the inlet of water is
thus throttled or cut off the ram a continues its stroke and the pump now acting
as an air pump exhausts the condenser f through the foot valve e into the pump
barrel b. After a given portion of the lifting stroke of the ram a has been
performed sufficient to exhaust the condenser f, the throttle valve j is opened by.
the action of the gearing and the inlet water is allowed free entrance, supplying the
vacant space in the pump barrel and by the time the stroke is completed filling the
pump barrel except that small portion of its space previously occupied by the hot
water and vapour of condensation. As the products of condensation are not at
this time under a vacuum, the space they occupy is very small and does not
materially diminish the efficiency of the pump. On the return or delivery stroke of
the ram the foot valve e is closed by the action of its spring and the first duty of
the said ram is to deliver the hot water and vapour of condensation into the hot
well h which it does through the auxiliary delivery valve g, opening in wards, and
the open throttle valve k. The said throttle valve is so timed by the gearing
that it remains open only during a small portion of the beginning of the delivery
stroke of the ram; that is to say, sufficiently long for the delivery of the hot water
and air into the hot well h. As there is less resistance in the hot well h than in
the main delivery pipe m the fluids pass into the said hot well through the open
valve k in preference to passing into the said delivery pipe m.
It will be understood that as the specific gravity of hot water and vapour is less
than that of cold water, the former will of necessity occupy the upper part of the
pump barrel and be discharged through the valve g before the cold water has been
sufficiently displaced to attain the height of the said valve g. After a small
portion of the return or delivery stroke of the ram has been made sufficient to
force the products of condensation into the hot well the throttle valve k is closed
by the gearing; the pump now acts as an ordinary pump the remainder of the
stroke of the ram being employed in delivering the cold fresh water into the air
vessel through the main delivery valve d and from thence into the delivery
pipe m.
By this construction and combination of parts tlie lifting stroke of the pump is
divided into two parts, one part being employed for exhausting the condenser and
the other, part for lifting the suction water into the working barrel of the pump;
and the delivery stroke of the pump is divided into two parts, one part being
employed for discharging the contents of the condenser into the hot well and the
other part for delivering fresh water into the air vessel from whence it may be
conducted to a surface condenser or conducted elsewhere.
•
Thus the same pump acts as an air pump and a circulating pump combined, the
two functions of the pump not materially interfering with one another.
Should it be desired to feed a boiler with the hot water only and to deliver the
cold water separately for other purposes into a separate vessel it will be necessary
to couple the delivery pipe m to the feed pipe of the boiler and to join the overflow
pipe n to the other separate vessel or reservoir to contain cold water only. It will
also be necessary to alter the timing of the throttle valve in such a manner as to
close it at the beginning of the delivery stroke while the hot water is being forced
into the boiler through the pipe m and to open it for the latter part of the stroke
while the remaining cold water is being delivered through the valve k and its
openings into the vessel which now loses its character of hot well and becomes
a cold well. In this case the pressure or resistance in the overflow pipe n must be
less than the boiler pressure or resistance in the pipe m so that by preference the
water will pass through the valve k, when open, rather than through the pipe m.
I also where desirable close the inlet branch of the pump for an occasional
complete stroke and so cause the pump to act as an air pump only during that
occasional stroke and as a common pump only during the majority of its strokes,
Thus, by means of a revolving cam driven from the fly wheel shaft of a pumping

page_text: engine an ordinary pump may have its inlet branch for cold water closed for one
stroke in four making it perform as an air pump during that one stroke and
leaving it at liberty to act as a cold water pump during, the remaining three
strokes. The pump cylinder is thus kept cool making it more efficient as an air
pump. The last described arrangement is well adapted for small donkey pumps.
The gearing represented in Figure 1 may be adapted for the closing of the inlet
branch of the pump for an occasional complete stroke of the ram by modifying
that part of the said gearing by which the rod m³ operating the throttle valve j is
worked, the cam or appliance operating the said rod m³ coming into action at, say,
every fourth stroke of the pump for the purpose described.
The throttle valve j used for arresting the stream of suction or incoming water
may be dispensed with and the suction valve c may be utilized and made to
perform the function of the said throttle valve. The suction valve c in this case
may either be operated by gearing similar to that by which the throttle valve j is
worked, or by the operation of the ram itself so as to close the said suction valve
during the required portion of the ram's stroke and afterwards liberated so as to
perform during the remainder of the ram's stroke the function of an ordinary
suction valve.
Figure 2 A represents in longitudinal section this modification of my invention in
which the suction valve c is kept closed during the first portion of the ram's stroke
by the lever c², c³ operated by the ram a the said lever turning on a centre carried
by the pump cylinder. The tail end c³ of the said lever projects into the hollow
end of the ram a and is operated by the incline a' in the hollow end of the said
On the ram making its back or delivery stroke, the incline a¹ raises the tail
end of the lever and the other end c' of the said lever is depressed upon and
made to hold down the suction valve c as represented, the said valve being held
down until the ram on making its suction stroke removes the incline a from
under the tail end of the lever when the suction valve is liberated and opens and
water is drawn into the pump cylinder in the usual way.
ram.
Or the inlet branch of the pump may be opened and closed at the proper times
by the action of the ram itself in the manner illustrated in the arrangement shown
in longitudinal section in Figure 3 and transverse section in Figure 4.
In this arrangement, as well as in the arrangement Figure 2 A, the hot well is
omitted and the pump acts as an air pump to exhaust the condenser and also as an
ordinary circulating pump; fis the condenser; is the injection pipe; e is the
clastic valve of the condenser opening into the delivery passage 62 of the pump
cylinder the said valve when flattened by the upward pressure of the water
closing the passage to the condenser as is well understood; d is the delivery valvė
and e² the delivery pipe; c is the suction valve. The end of the pump barrel b in
which the ram a works has side openings 63, 53 made in it which open into the
suction chamber c² above the suction valve c. These openings 63, 63 are covered
and closed by the head of the ram a during a portion of its stroke so as to cut off
for a time the incoming or suction stream of water and when the said head of the
ram has passed the openings 63, 63 water is drawn into the pump cylinder through
them in the ordinary way. When the ram a occupies the position represented in
Figure 3 the suction chamber c² is closed during the first portion of the lifting
stroke of the said ram and the condenser f is exhausted, the condensed water and
vapour passing into the delivery passage 62. The ram having by its motion
uncovered the openings 63, 63 the pump now acts as an ordinary pump the suction
water being drawn into the pump cylinder and on the return stroke of the ram
the water and the products of condensation are delivered through the valve d into
the delivery pipe e.
I do not confine myself to two vessels only to be supplied on the delivery side
or to two vessels or pipes on the suction side as any number of sources of supply
may be drawn from and any number of delivery branches may be fed by the pump
alternately by a proper adjustment of the valves.
My invention is applicable to double acting as well-as to single acting pumps.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my invention. But I claim as my
invention of "Improvements in pumps used in connection with the condensation
of steam."
First The alternate closing and opening of the suction valve or the equivalent
of a valve or the passage which admits the suction water to the pump, for the
purposes and substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings; that is to say, making the pump serve both as an air
pump and an ordinary pump by closing the suction valve or passage during the
first portion of the stroke of the rain or piston, thereby for a time wholly or in
part cutting off the suction or incoming stream of water and permitting the pump
to act as an air pump for draining or exhausting the condenser or other vessel or
pipe, the said suction valve or passage being opened during the remainder of the
stroke of the ram or piston, the several parts being constructed arranged and
operating substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly-Arranging and working the delivery valves of the pump so that
during one portion of the stroke of the rain or piston the contents of the upper
part of the pump barrel shall be discharged into the hot well or boiler while the
remaining contents of the pump barrel shall during the other portion of the ram's
stroke be discharged through the ordinary delivery valve substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly Closing the inlet branch of the pump for an occasional complete
stroke of the ram or piston so as thereby to cause the pump to draw from one
vessel during that occasional stroke and from another vessel during another
occasional stroke and finally leaving the pump at liberty to act as a common
pump during the remainder of its strokes substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fourthly Closing one of the delivery branches of the pump or that branch
which leads to a certain vessel under low pressure, such as a cold water reservoir
tank, for one complete stroke of the ram while another vessel, such as a boiler at a
higher pressure than the vessel previously referred to, is being supplied leaving one
or more of the following strokes of the ram to deliver freely into the aforesaid cold
water tank as herein before described.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Foster Stenson have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three
Witness, RICHARD SKERRETT
37 Temple Street
Birmingham
THOMAS FOSTER STENSON (L.S.)
Witness, RICHARD SKERRETT
37 Temple Street
Birmingham