Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1898
I, JOSEPH CHARLES GELLY, of No. 10, Rue du Chateau d'Eau, Paris, France, 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 :-
This invention relates to an apparatus by means of which liquids are automatically
raised. It consists mainly of a combination of two pipes, one of which constitutes a
descending pipe, while the other forms a conduit, in which pipes a body of liquid is
made to circulate continuously having a vis viva produced by the height of the fall,
and which by means of a flap valve placed at the inlet of the descending pipe,
automatically and suddenly breaks the continuity of the current so as to divide it
into two parts, one of which, namely that in the descending pipe, serves to give the
velocity, that is to say, the vis viva to the liquid current, for bringing the flap valve
on its seat, and, owing to the recoil movement of this descending part, caused by
the atmospheric pressure, to re-open the said flap valve and raise a suitable lift valve,
through the seat of which a portion of the liquid can be raised into the rising main.
The other portion of the current effects the raising of a check valve and passes
into the rising main.
The apparatus is shewn on the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shews the
ordinary construction of the apparatus; Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 shew modified
arrangements.
From a reservoir A, Fig. 1, containing the water or other liquid to be raised
extends a horizontal conduit B terminating in a downward directed vertical pipe B¹.
In the interior of the pipe B is a flap valve 1 pivotted at P to the sides of B and
opening in the direction of the reservoir A, which valve bears against the end of
pipe B which is directly connected to B.
A reservoir J-H provided with a lift valve F and a rising delivery pipe R, is
branched upon the pipe B.
In the interior of the pipe B¹ is a flap valve D" opening in the contrary direction
to D.
The pipe B has an opening d which puts it in communication with a bell or
vessel g having a lift valve b and a pipe c connected to R.
The action of this apparatus is as follows: Assuming the flap valves D and D¹ to
be open and the lift valve F to be on its seat, the liquid in A will flow through B
and passing through the openings of the valves D D will flow down the pipe B¹.
Its velocity and consequently its vis viva will gradually increase, and at a certain
moment will close the valve D. The liquid contained in B, by virtue of the velocity
and vis viva it has attained, will open the valve F and will partly fill the
reservoir J H, where it will compress the air, and will eventually rise up the pipe R.
When the vis viva of the liquid in B is exhausted the pressure of the liquid above
he valve F will close this.
On the other hand, the body of liquid in the pipe B¹, which has been suddenly

page_text: separated from the body in B, also continues its downward flow through the pipe,
thereby producing a vacuum behind it, near the valve D, at m.
But at this noment
the atmospheric pressure only acting at p on the lower end of the body of liquid,
behind which is a vacuum, causes this body to rise again and forces it back in the
pipe B¹, and this recoil of the liquid will force the valve D open, closing the valve D¹¹,
which has for its object to prevent the body of liquid in B¹ from re-entering B and to
cause it to be directed against the valve b which is thus raised, so that through its
seat a portion of the liquid passes into the bell g whence it flows up the pipe c into
the pipe R. The valve b will then close owing to the difference of pressure acting on
its two sides, after which the continuous flow through the pipes B B¹ will recom-
The reservoir A can either
mence, and the above described action will be repeated.
be at a higher or a lower level than, or on the same level with the valve D; if it is at
a lower level, then for facilitating the starting of the apparatus it may be necessary to
close by means of a cock the discharge end of the pipe B', and to provide a check
valve at the entrance of the pipe B, and, lastly, to fill the entire conduit B B¹ with
liquid. On then opening the cock on B¹ the body of liquid is started in motion.
The pipes B B¹ may either be of the same or of different diameters, and may have
any desired relative position, thus they may be connected directly end to end as at
Fig. 1, or the one may be branched on the other at any angle as at Fig. 2, or they
may be connected indirectly by the interposition of one or two closed boxes of any
suitable form such as M M Fig. 3, in which are arranged the flap valves D D¹, as
also the lift valves F and b, with which boxes are connected the reservoir J H and the
bell g Fig. 3.
The pipes B B¹ may be straight or serpentine either in elevation or in plan; the
pipe B need not be vertical. Its lower extremity must be both below the valve D
and the upper surface of the liquid in the reservoir A. The two valves D D must
open in contrary directions, D in the direction of the reservoir A, that is towards the
side of the entrance of the liquid in the pipe B while D" opens in the direction of
the discharge; they may be otherwise placed where desired and they may be replaced
by a spherical or other similar form of valve. The valve D may be placed in the
pipe B, or at the end thereof as at Fig. 1, or laterally above as at Fig. 2 or below or
in a box M Fig. 3, the seat of the valve D must be at the entrance of the descending
pipe B¹, the lower or discharge end of which must be below the upper surface of the
liquid in A.
The valve D¹¹ may be placed in the pipe B¹, Figs. 1 and 2, in any suitable manner,
or in a box M' Fig. 3; it increases the useful effect of the apparatus but in the case of
a small amount of fall it may be omitted.
The tube c may be connected to the tube R, Fig. 1, or to the reservoir A, as at
Fig. 2, or it may be led to any desired locality.
advantageous to provide the discharge end of pipe B¹
into a recipient.
In certain cases it may be
with a bend P¹, or to let it dip
The results obtained by means of the valves D and D¹¹ may also be obtained by a
single valve D Fig. 5; this valve is placed in a closed box M containing only a check
valve F, and oscillates between the openings of the tubes B B¹, so as to close the one
or the other according to the direction of the flow.
In the apparatus shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, both the direct motion of the body of liquid
and its recoil motion are utilised. When it is desired to utilise the recoil motion, only
the arrangement shewn at Fig. 4 is used. The tube B containing the directly acting
body of water is omitted, in practice there is interposed between the reservoir and
the descending column B' a box or pipe containing the valve D.
In certain installations as in the raising of a supply of feed water, it may be
essential to raise the whole of the potable water descending in the pipe B¹.
For this purpose there may be used a supply of non-potable water for effecting the
above described working of the valves. For this purpose the impure water is collected
in the reservoir A and the potable water in the reservoir X, Fig. 6, arranged at a
slightly higher level.
In addition to the appliances above described, there is provided within the tube,

page_text: beyond the valve D, relatively to A, a moveable disc U connected to one end of a
flexible membrane V of caoutchouc, leather, thin metal or other suitable material,
the other end of this being secured liquid-tight either to the sides of the pipe B or
between the flanges thereof, so as to form within it a water-tight chamber S facing
the part of the apparatus included between U and A, but being capable of
communicating with the air vessel H through the valve F. This compartment S
is also connected to the reservoir X for potable water by a pipe Z provided with a
guided valve opening towards S.
A stop U¹ is provided for limiting the stroke of the disc U.
The action of this apparatus is as follows:-Assuming that the reservoir X contains
a sufficient quantity of potable water, that the valve F is closed on its seat, and that
the chamber S is filled with potable water, then on the body of water in B B¹ being
set in motion as above described, it will, on attaining a sufficient vis inertia, close
valve D, and will then, in striking against the disc U, force this forward and thus
transmit its momentum to the potable water contained in S; this water in being thus
displaced closes the valve Y opens valve F and enters the air vessel H compressing
the air therein and passing up the rising pipe R. The vis inertia of the water in B
being expended as above described, the valve F will close and the valve D will open
and the flow of water from B B will cause the disc U to be moved back again by the
pressure of the water entering S through the valve Y from X, and also by the
atmospheric pressure, until the chamber S is again filled with potable water, after
which the above described action will be repeated.
For the arrangement of the disc U and membrane V may be substituted any
equivalent arrangement for effecting the above described purpose. If owing to the
dise U not fitting water-tight, some liquid should penetrate between the membrane V
and the sides of the pipe B, it can be discharged by means of the cock r, which may
be connected to a pipe leading to a receptacle. For overcoming the inertia of the
disc U and keeping it vertical there may be provided in S a spring, and the
membrane V may be strengthened by the combination therewith of metallic wire
rings or other suitable flexible material.
The reservoir X is preferably arranged at a slightly higher level than the other part
of the apparatus, as described, but it may also be arranged at a lower level; in this
case, as at Fig. 7, the disc U must fit perfectly water-tight, and for insuring its return
motion after the impact, there is introduced between the membrane V and the sides
of the pipe B water, supplied through a pipe W from a receptacle at a higher level
than the reservoir of potable water with which the chamber S is to be filled. The
pipe Z through which this water is drawn in is placed below and provided with a
suitable valve opening upwards.
The advantages of the above described apparatus consist in the doing away with all
springs, weights or counterweights, levers, and other secondary devices for transmission,
such as have heretofore been employed for operating the valves in apparatus of this
kind.
In addition the apparatus cannot become submerged at the low water level; the
water is raised to a greater height than with the ordinary hydraulic ram installed in
the low water level, while the improved apparatus can be placed at the high water
level.
The apparatus can be applied to all kinds of sources of supply, even with small
delivery; with very small supplies it may be fed continuously by the aid of a siphon
bend a at the supply as at Fig. 2.
The principal advantage of this apparatus consists in the dividing the body of
liquid into two parts for the purpose of utilising simultaneously the direct motion of
the one part, and to produce and utilise the inverse movement of the other part for
elevating a portion of the liquid of each of the two bodies, or to force them both or
separately into a turbine or other similar motive power machine.
Also, the weight of the body of liquid which escapes from the discharge end of the
descending pipe may be utilised in a suitable apparatus.
Lastly, the above described arrangement for the separation of two different supplies.

page_text: of water enables potable water (or other liquid such as wine, spirits, petroleum) to be
raised by means of a supply of non-potable water (or other liquid) the fall of which
from the lower end of the tube B can be utilised.
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 :-
1. Apparatus for raising liquids and producing motive power consisting of the
combination of two pipes or conduits such as B B₁ constituting a fall of which the
horizontal portion B is permanently connected, on the one hand to a supply reservoir
of liquid A at a higher level than the outlet p of the vertical part B¹, and on the other
hand intermittently, through a valve F, with a reservoir or air vessel JH having a
rising discharge pipe R, the pipe B¹ having a valve D11 opening towards the discharge
opening p of B1, and a bell g provided with a lift valve b and connected by the pipe c
to the pipe R, the pipe B being provided with a valve D the seat of which is at the
commencement of the pipe B1, the combination of these parts having the object of
separating the body of liquid flowing through the pipes B B₁ suddenly and
automatically into two parts of which one part flows down the pipe B for imparting
the speed and momentum to the whole body, for effecting the automatic closing of
the valve D and also for opening it again and for closing the valve D¹¹ and raising the
valve B by the recoil motion of the descending body due to the pressure of the
atmosphere acting at p for the purpose of raising one portion of the liquid in
directing it either into the pipe R, Fig. 1, or into the reservoir Fig. 2 or to any other
locality, while the part of the liquid in B serves to raise the valve F and then flows
up the pipe R, substantially as described.
2. An apparatus of the kind referred to in the first claim wherein the reservoir A is
either above, on a level with or below the valve D, the tube B, which may be of any
form, being inclined downwards, upwards, or level, substantially as described.
3. Apparatus such as is referred to in the first claim, wherein the two pipes B B¹
of equal or unequal diameters may have any desired relative position and be con-
nected together either directly end to end as at Fig. 1, or branched one on the other
at an angle as at Fig. 2, or connected indirectly by the interposition of one or two
closed boxes M M¹ as at Fig. 3 of the drawings.
4. Apparatus such as is referred to in the first claim, in which the flap valve D or
equivalent device such as a lift valve or ball valve may be arranged in any position
in the pipe B either at its end as at Fig. 1, or at the sides above as at Fig. 2 or below,
or at the commencement of the pipe B, Figs. 1 and 2, or in a closed vessel M with
valve D connecting the tubes B B₁, substantially as described.
5. Apparatus such as is referred to in the first claim in which the valve D¹¹ or other
similar device which opens in the reverse direction to D, that is, in the direction of
the discharge p, can have any position, and be placed in the pipe B' in any desired
manner as at Figs. 1 and 2, or in a closed box M' with valve b, as at Fig. 3.
6. Apparatus such as is referred to in the first claim, wherein the downward dis-
charge tube B' may be of any desired form so long as its discharge opening p is below
both the valve D and the supply vessel A of pipe B, substantially as described.
7. An apparatus operating as described in the first claim, and as shewn at Fig. 5,
in which a single valve oscillates between the mouths of the pipes B and B¹ within
a closed box with check valve, on which mouths the valve closes alternately for pro-
ducing the results obtained by means of the valves D and D¹¹.
8. An apparatus such as is shewn at Fig. 4 consisting of the combination of the
valves D D and of the descending pipe B provided with a bell g with lift valve b,
for the purpose of raising the liquid into the bell g and the pipe c by means of the
recoil motion of the body of liquid flowing through B¹.
9. Apparatus such as is referred to in the first claim containing, in addition to the
device therein set forth, a disc U or equivalent moveable device situated in the pipe B
between reservoir A and valve D which disc fits water-tight in the pipe and is attached
water-tight to one end of an elastic or flexible membrane of caoutchouc, leather, metal

page_text: or other suitable material, if necessary combined with metal or other flexible rings,
and having its other end secured water-tight to the sides of pipe B so as to form
a collapsible chamber S that can communicate through a pipe Z having a check valve
with a reservoir X at a higher level, so as to allow of a liquid in X different from that
in A (such as potable water), being propelled upward by the impact of the moving
body of liquid from A in the pipe B when flowing down the tube B', substantially
as described with reference to Figure 6.
10. Apparatus such as is referred to in the Ninth Claim, provided below the pipe B
with a pipe Z communicating with a reservoir at a lower level containing the potable
water or other liquid, and also provided with another pipe W communicating with an
upper reservoir containing a suitable liquid, the pressure of which upon the disc U
effects its backward motion and consequent raising of the potable water through Z by
the suction action produced in S, substantially as described with reference to
Figure 7.
Dated this 90th day of December 1907