IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING LIQUIDS, GRAIN, AND OTHER MATERIALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROTARY ENGINES
Year: 1872

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd July 1872.-A communication from abroad by John Harris,
of Montreal, Canada.
.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING
LIQUIDS, GRAIN, AND OTHER MATERIALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROTARY ENGINES," a communication, to
be as follows:-
:-
The said Invention consists primarily in constructing a continuous
trough or a number of such troughs in the form of a helix, and attached
to a circular disc or plate concentric with the helix, or the trough may
be contained between two such plates and attached to both of them.
The same is to be enclosed in a fixed drum, within which it may be
rotated by means of a spindle passing through the centre of the helix
and secured to die plates. In the vacant space surrounding the helix,

page_text: or in the centre of the helix is fed the liquid or grain to be elevated;
the action of the helix in the former instance impelling the material
to be elevated directly to the centre, and in the latter directly towards
the circumference.
This arrangement may however be varied by substituting a solid
cylinder for the plate, and constructing the helicoidal trough around the
cylinder to which it is firmly attached, or a groove may be cut around
and into the solid cylinder spirally. A hollow cylinder answering to the
second plate in the former arrangement may be attached to the extérior
edge of the helicoidal trough, these parts being as before enclosed in a
fixed drum, and rotated by a shaft or spindle, which in this case forms
a continuation of the said cylinder and passes through the longitudinal
axis of the drum; the vacant space between the end of the trough and
the flat end of the drum is supplied with fluid or grain; the whole
arrangement is rotated and the fluid or grain is thereby continually
impelled toward the opposite extremity of the trough.
The second principal feature of this Invention is the provision of a
movable valve of peculiar construction to be herein-after described,
which may be actuated and regulated either by the movement of the
helicoidal trough itself, or by any suitable contrivance for that purpose.
This valve by continually opposing any retrogressive motion of the fluid
or grain through the helicoidal trough assists materially the thorough
and advantageous application of mechanical power to compel the motion
of the fluid in the required direction. Also in the case where the Huid
admitted exercises mechanical power (i.e., when the said Invention is
used as an engine), it is applied more effectively and to better advantage
than in other machines or engines used for like purposes.
'
IN
The aforesaid helix may be of any suitable spiral curve; the two discs
or plates are rotated by a shaft and secured thereto by radial arıs
forming continuations of the two plates, and attached to a collar fixed
on the said shaft. Into the casing is led the supply or suction pipė
forming the periphery of the casing; it may be made to increase in
diameter, till after having completed the circumference of the plates it
almost touches them. The discharge pipes taken together are of the
same sectional area as the suction pipe. It may sometimes be found
desirable instead of making the pump contripetal, as in this case, to
reverse the action.

page_text: This pump may be placed vertically or horizontally, but the following
modifications are necessary when the same is used vertically:.
.
:-
In a modification of the vertical pump, which may be used to great
advantage in transferring from one level to another fluids of a viscous
nature or containing solid matter in suspension, and which may also be
used as a water engine. The main features are the same. The helix is
enclosed by the plates secured to the revolving shaft by radial arms as
before, but instead of the suction or supply pipe led tangentially into
the casing, the lower part of the rim of the casing for any convenient
portion of its circumference is removed, so that the mouth of the
trough scoops up (so to speak) a supply of the fluid at cach rotation, or
the entire rim of the casing may be removed, and several mouths be
furnished by the helicoidal canals joining the main trough, tangentially
or nearly so at its exterior circle.
When the pump is arranged horizontally the helix is preferably placed
upon a disc, secured as before to a collar on the shaft, and strengthened
if necessary by radial ribs underneath it. The top part of the fixed
casing forms a rubbing joint with the top of the helix as before. A slot
is formed in it radially at any convenient spot on the surface. In this
slot works either the compound wheel valve or the inner reciprocating
valve herein-after described, as may be found most suitable. The
periphery of the casing is formed by the tangential supply or suction
pipe, through which the water is admitted to the pump. The cylinder
through which it is forced up to the level required is placed immediately
over the eye of the helix. Rods or arms from eyes formed in the
circumference of the cylinder converge to a collar, which carries the
ends of the shaft and acts to steady the same.
Rotary motion may be imparted to the disc and helix either through
a pulley and belt, or by a rack formed on the under surface of the disc,
and geared with a pinion, the shaft of which may be turned in any way.
Should the pump be submerged the tangential pipe will, be omitted, the
periphery of the casing being either not used or perforated for the
admission of the fluid.

page_text: '
In a modification of the above the wheel may be composed of one dise
only, the periphery being of sufficient width to allow the valves to sink
into recesses formed in it. These valves are paired, and those of each
pair are joined together by a link passing through the wheel. Where these
links cross each other the outer ones are slotted to allow of the free
passage of the inner ones through them, all the links being also slotted
so as not to interfere with the spindle of the wheel. The radial arms
are in this case slotted to allow the requisite play to the spindle.
In another modification the radial arms may be omitted altogether,
the valves being joined together as before by the connecting links. In
this case the inside of the casing itself forms the guide, and when acting
upon the edges of the valves, depresses them into the wheel, with which
the casing forms a rubbing joint.
Instead of the compound wheel valve above described a different
form of valve which I call the inner and outer reciprocating valve may
be used. The construction of the former is as follows:-In the fixed
cover of the grain elevator is formed a slot radial as before to the centre,
long enough to lay open the breadth of two turns of the trough of the
helix, and just wide enough to allow the free play of the valve. This
valve is shaped at the bottom to fit the helicoidal trough, and is carried.
up above the surface of the cover and provided with a flange at the
back on that part of the valve above the cover, against which flange
pressure is exerted by spiral springs placed around pins.
.
The casing has formed in it either by projections or grooves guides in
which move the pins projecting from the edges of the flange.
The outer reciprocating valve has the slot or opening formed in the
periphery of the casing or drum, and if requisite continued through the
casing toward the centre. To the periphery is secured a box or case of
sufficient depth to allow the valve to retire into it, and also to allow
room for springs around telescopic pins, to press against a flange forming
the back of the valve.
When my Invention is adapted to serve the purpose of a rotary steam
or water engine the helix is confined preferably to two complete turns
of the two-sided trough or channel. An annular projection from the
outer surface of the plates enters the inner surface of the casing, thus
forming a steam-tight joint.

page_text: At the centre of the casing, around the shaft on either of the two sides
of the casing, or on both sides thereof is formed a circular box or
chamber, into which the steam supply pipe is conducted. Beneath this
circular chamber the sheath or plate is removed, so that the steam
enters the central part of the helix between radial arms, which connect
either or both of the plates to the collar on the shaft, and thence the
steam passes into the inner turn of the helicoidal channel. The supply
pipe may also be screwed in the casing, and a part be formed in the
plate to allow the steam to enter the engine at each revolution.
.