IMPROVEMENTS IN DIRECT ACTING PUMPING ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark of the firm of A M and W Clark of
53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of
Patent Agents for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN DIRECT ACTING
PUMPING ENGINES communicated to him from abroad by Edward G
Shortt of Carthage in the County of Jefferson and State of New York, United
States of America, Machinist
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1883.
WILLIAM CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DIRECT ACTING PUMPING ENGINES." [communicated to him from abroad
by Edward G Shorit of Carthage in the County of Jefferson and State of New
York, United States of America, Machinist]
This Invention relates to direct acting pumping engines in which the pump.
piston and steam piston are connected together and work in unison in a case, one
end of which forms the pump, and the other end of which is equipped with valves
and ports and forms a steam engine acting directly upon the pump. The Invention;
relates more particularly to improvements in the Invention for which former Letters
Patent were granted dated 8th June 1881, Nº 2500, and is characterised by, 1st an
improvement in the pump piston whereby the pump is made double acting for the,
suction and single acting for the discharge, and whereby access is given to the
working parts within; 2nd an improved construction of head or partition separating
the steam chamber from the water chamber; 3rd an improved construction of the
steam valves and ports, and 4th an improved construction of the steam piston in
combination with the cylinder and ineans for controlling the flow of the steam and
the exhaust.
.
I will first explain the combination and operation of the pump plunger as though
it were a separate device, and then describe the construction and operation of the
steam engine portion and its co-operation with the numn

page_text: Upon the middle portion of a cast metal base is bolted an upright cylinder upon
each side of which are arranged chambers for the water valves having caps which
cover openings in the base that give access to the valves, and which caps are held
down by screws that pass through pivoted bails which may be swung over to one
side to permit the caps to be lifted off for giving access to the interior of the base. 5
This cylinder forms at its upper end a steam chamber and at its lower end a water
chamber, being provided with a stationary head forming a partition between the
chambers having a stuffing box through which the piston rod works. The lower
portion of the cylinder is hollowed out so as to form a thinner shell than the upper
portion, and in the bottom of this lower portion and attached to the base is the 1
plunger barrel containing the water plunger. This barrel is open at both ends and
projects a short distance up into the water chamber and downwardly into a central
chamber in the base. The inlet passage in the base communicates with the water
chamber through an upwardly inclined passage and also through a side passage
controlled by a valve, with the central chamber. From this central chamber a 1
passage leads through another valve into the side chamber beneath the cap on the
delivery sido, which chamber communicates through a passage with an air chamber
which is furnished with pendant skirts or walls whereby the cushion of air is
prevented from escaping.
In operation, when the plunger descends, it sucks water through the inclined
passage into the water chamber, and on rising it forces out the water above the
plunger down the inclined passage and at the same time creates a suction in the
central chamber and the passages, whereby the water expelled from the water
chamber is allowed to pass to the central chamber or lower side of the plunger. As
the plunger again descends it fills the water chamber from the source of supply,
expels the water in the lower central chamber into the air chamber where it
compresses the air cushion which in expanding causes the water to issuo at the
outlet in a nearly continuous stream.
It will be seen that in the operation of this part of the engine, in expelling the
water from the central chamber, the plunger is single acting in effect only, but in
filling this chamber it is double acting since it fills the chamber in rising both by
displacing or expelling the water from the water chamber and also by creating a
partial vacuum in the central chamber and the passages, which causes the water
from the water chamber to be transferred to the central chamber.
The air chamber and the central chamber are drained when the pump is not in:
use by the withdrawal of a long screw plug.
The valves are in the nature of discs playing upon a stem rising from spider
frame seats and backed by springs. The one on the inlet side is located at a lower
level than the other and has above it a hollow filling block. The cap has within it
an air chamber which is provided with a passago communicating with the water
inlet in order that the water may surge up into the chamber to compress the air
and store up water therein as in a reservoir which causes the suction of the pump
to fill its chamber more quickly.
I will now describe the construction and operation of the steam cylinder and its
appurtenances.
The stationary head between the steam and water space is made hollow for
lightness and to avoid too great conductivity between the steam and water space,
and it is tightly fitted and held in the cylinder by pins. This head projects
upwardly into the steam space in the form of a hollow boss of less diameter than
the inner diameter of the cylinder and upon and around it fits loosely the shell of
an inverted cup shaped piston attached to the piston rod. This piston fits the
cylinder steam tight and there is a space between the piston and the head or boss
which permits steam when admitted to the lower end of the cylinder to find a
working bearing at once against the whole area of the piston. A head or partition
is fastened upon the top of the cylinder and above this there is a casing to which
a cover is secured provided with a stuffing box through which passes a rod having
a handle for moving the valve by hand in starting the engine. This valve which

page_text: is of a hollow cylindrical type fits closely and reciprocates vertically in a shell
within the casing. Its upper portion slidos over ports and governs tho admission
of steam to, and its exhaust from the, steam cylinder, and its lower portion is mado
in the form of an inverted cup shaped piston which is acted upon by steam to shift
the valve over the main ports, tho admission and exhaust of steam to and from tho
piston working the valve being controlled reciprocally by the movement of the
steam piston as hereafter described.
The general arrangement of this part of the engine is very similar to that shown
in the specification of the prior Patent, and I will now moro particularly describo
the novel features.
The steam cylinder is provided at each end with pairs of independent inlot and
exhaust ports, one of each pair opening into the cylinder. at the extreme ends
thereof to constitute the inlet, while the two others open about an inch from the
ends and constitute the exhaust ports. The object of this is to form a cushion and
avoid the hammering action of the piston against the heads. The two ports which
open below the piston pass up side by side in the wall of the cylinder and the
upper casing and open respectively into exhaust and steam orifices in the shell, and
the other ports which open into the steam cylinder above the piston also pass up
side by side in the wall of the cylinder and the casing and opon respectively into
other exhaust and steam orifices in the shell, the head or plato on the cylinder
being provided with holes which registor with these ports. As however the exhaust
from the undersido of the piston on the down stroke is assisted by the weight of
the piston and its rod, the exhaust port from below the piston where it passes
through the head or plate, is made of less size than the corresponding one above
the piston to make the action uniform. Between the exhaust orifices in the shell
surrounding the valve thero is an intermediate exhaust orifice which is always in
communication with the main exhaust pipe. The valve is provided about midlength
upon its outside with a recoss or elongated channel which moves over the three
exhaust orifices and covers two of them at a time. Above and below this recess
and adapted to coincido with the steam orifices of the shell, there are openings.
leading to the interior or hollow chamber of the valve. This valve and its shell
have opposite openings in their sides which are always in communication with
branched steam passages which extend around the casing from the main inlet pipe.
Now, it being understood that steam is always in the chamber of the valve,
when this valvo is in a certain position, the following actions aro taking place.-
Live steam is flowing through the upper opening communicating with tho interior
of the valve through one of the steain orifices of the shell and through one of the
ports to the lower end of the steam cylinder and starting the piston up while the
steam above the piston is being discharged through another port and the recess in.
the valve to the main exhaust. When the piston has risen to its highest point
and the valve has also been shifted to a higher point (by means hereafter described)
the recess in the valve passes away from the orifice in the shell, and the lower
orifice of the valve comes opposite its appropriato orifice in the shell, the recess in
the valve being also shifted. Live steain then passes to the upper end of the
steam cylinder and the steam below the piston passes up to the main exhaust. A
guide bolt is fitted in a vertical slot in the valve to prevent it turning axially.
The cylindrical shell portion of the piston of the steam cylinder is made longer
than the length of the stroke and acts as a slide valve in controlling the flow of
steam to and from the underside of the valve. For this purpose the piston has on
its outer periphery a vertical recess, of which the lower is twice the width of the
upper portion and the lattor leads to a central hole in the top of the piston which
is most of the time in communication with the steam space above. Leading from
one of the steam passages in the casing of the valve, there is a port which is
formed in the wall of the casing and extends along the wall of the cylinder opening
on the inside thereof. There is also another exactly similar port terminating on
the same level below but extending only up to the plate on the cylinder and
opening into a radial channel which leads to the channel underneath the piston of

page_text: .
the valve. When the steam piston reaches its highest point, its wide recess covers
the lower ends of both ports and steam then passes from the branched passage of
the valve casing to the wide recess of the piston, and thence through to the radial
channel on the head to the underside of the piston of the valve. This serves to
shift this valve and gives it its upward movement. If steam were cut off at once
by the descent of the piston, it would condense under the valve and would not
hold it up positively, and I therefore elongato one side of the recess in the steam
piston in such mariner that until the piston passes down a considerable distance,
the pressure of the steam under the piston of the valve is maintained by steam
taken from the steam chamber which passes through the hole in the top of the
piston and the passage to the recess in the steam piston and thence to the chamber
below the valve piston. It will thus be seen that the steam taken through the
port from the steam passages in the casing, shifts the valve, and after the piston
starts down, the pressure under the valve is maintained by steam from the steam.
cylinder.
To bring the valve down steam is exhausted from the lower side of its piston as
follows: A port leads from the lower side of said piston through the wall of the
steam cylinder and opens through the side of the same to its interior. The steam
piston has near its top a horizontal recess extending about one-fourth around the
same, and one end of this recess, when the piston is at the lower end of its stroke,
covers the lower end of the port, and the other end of the recess covers the lower
end of another port formed in the wall of the casing and steam cylinder and
leading to the main exhaust so that when the steam piston reaches the end of the
down stroke and the valve requires to be changed, steam is discharged from tho
lower side of the valve piston to the main exhaust.
The plate on the steam cylinder is furnished with a central pin adapted to
exactly fit the recess in-the-top-of the-piston when the piston is at the upper end
of the cylinder and close the orifice of the port therein thereby preventing waste
of steam.
It will be noted that the area of the steam pressure on the underside of the
valve piston is much greater than it is upon the top side, and that this piston is
worked on its up stroke by the excess of pressure on its underside over and above
the pressure on the upper side, and ou the down stroke is worked solely by the
pressure of steam on the upper side, the steam below it being exhausted as before
described. The object in making the piston of inverted cup shape is to give its
sides a long bearing against the walls of the casing and still preserve its lightness,
and to permit the water of condensation to drain away. The steam which supplies
the space above the piston is taken from the interior of the valve through a hole
therein and two passage ways, one of which is formed in the inner wall of the
shell, and the other in the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the valve,
and which two passage ways coincide soon after the valve starts on its upward
movement.
To prevent the valve from hammering the heads, the valve is cushioned with
live steani at each end as follows:-Its exhaust port opens into the chamber below
the valve piston a short distance above the lower end of the chamber, and just
when the piston cuts off this exhaust, live steam passes from the upper side of this
piston to the lower side through a passage, thus cushioning the valve on its down
stroke. An exhaust passage also leads from above the valve to the main exhaust
and opens into the casing a short distance below the end of the up stroke, and as
soon as the valve cuts off, this exhaust live steam passes through a hole in the
valve and through a passage in the shell to the upper side of the valve, thus
cushioning the valve on its up stroke.
It is very desirable in working to have means provided for affording access to
the stufling box through which the piston rod works, and to the water plunger for
tightening up, and for this purpose the water chamber has a lateral opening of
circular forin covered by a plate which is held upon the face of the opening by a
turn bar having a screw stem which passes through the plate and is provided with

page_text: a nut which forces the plate to a solid and tight bearing against the face of the
opening. The turn bar has at each end a tongue that fits in the recess botween
pairs of flanges, and one of the said sets of flanges has an outlet at the bottom and
the other at the top, so that in fitting the turn bar it is inserted in a nearly vertical
position and is then turned horizontally into the grooves between the flanges.
It will be noted with regard to this engine that the steam piston has the primary
function of a piston, and a secondary function of a slide valve controlling steam to
the valve above, and that the valve has a primary function of a valve to control
the flow of steam to the steam piston, and a. secondary function of a piston to give
it the necessary motion. The steam piston and main valve therefore have a
reciprocal relation to each other operating together automatically and smoothly
without any direct or positive connection.
The shell of the piston has a rib or feather that enters a groove in the boss of
the head to prevent the piston from turning axially.
The part of the valve which bears against the perforated side of the shell is made
in a separate piece fitting snugly in cylindrical periphery of the valve and forming
a segment thereof. The object of this is to cause the steam to press this part to
close contact with the wearing surfaces about the orifices so as to take up looseness
due to wear and thus make a tight steam joint at this point.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Clark in the Patent Office on the 2nd February 1884.
WILLIAM CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery Lano in
the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents "IMPROVE-
NENTS IN DIRECT-ACTING PUMPING ENGINES" A communication to me from abroad 5
by Edward G. Shortt, of Carthage in the County of Jefferson and State of New
York, United States of America, Machinist
Figure 1 is a vertical central section through the engine. Figures 1° and 1º are
side views of the upper part of the cylinder.
Figure 3 1
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 2 is a similar view taken in a plane at right angles to figure 1
is a cross section on an enlarged scale through the line x-x of figure 2.
is a cross section on an enlarged scale through the line y-y of figure 2.
is a cross section on an enlarged scale through the line of figure 2.
is an enlarged top view of the partition plate or head R. Figure 7 are two side
views of the piston at right angles to each other. Figure 8 is an enlarged view of 1
the top of figure 2.
=
This invention relates to direct acting pumping ongines in which the pump
piston and steam piston are connected together and work in unison in a case
one end of which forms the pump and the other end of which is equipped with
valves and ports and forms a steam engine acting directly upon the pump. The 2
invention relates more particularly to improvements in the invention for which
former letters patent were granted dated 8th June 1881 No. 2500 and is
characterised by first, an improvement in the pump piston whereby the pump is
made double acting for the suction and single acting for the discharge, and
whereby access is given to the working parts within. Second an improved 2
construction of head or partition separating the steam chamber from the water
chamber. Third an improved construction of the steam valves and ports and
Fourth an improved construction of the steam piston in combination with the
cylinder and means for controlling the flow of the steam and the exhaust.
In describing the invention I will first explain the combination and operation of 8
the pump plunger, as though it were a separate device and then describe the
construction and operation of the steam engine portion and its co-operation with
the pump. First with respect to the pump figures 1 and 2 A represents a cast
metal base upon the middle portion of which is fastened by bolts and upright
cylinder C, while upon each side thereof are arranged caps D D' which cover
openings in the base that give access to the valves and which caps are held down
by screws 6 that pass through pivoted bails E which may be swung over to one
side to permit the caps to be lifted off for giving access to the interior of the base
as shown in the prior patent. above alluded to.
This cylinder C forms at its upper end a steam chamber S and at its lower end
forms a water chamber W and between these two points is provided with a
stationary head F forming a partition between said chambers and which head or
partition has a stuffing box c through which passes the piston rod G. The lower
portion of the cylinder O is hollowed out to a thinner shell than the upper portion
and in the bottom of this lower portion and attached to base A by screws a is the
plunger barrel H containing the water plunger I. This barrel is open at both
ends and projects a short distance up into the water chamber Wand depends
downwardly through a central hole in the base into a central chamber A¹ of said
base. In this base is formed the inlet passage A' which communicates with the
water chamber W through an upwardly inclined passage A³ and which inlet

page_text: passage A also communicates through valve A" and side passage A' with the
central chamber A¹. Leading from this central chamber there is a passage A³
which through valve A leads into the chamber beneath cap D¹ and this chamber
communicates through passage A7 with an air chamber A. This air chamber las
a pendant skirt or wall A with an opening at the bottom which prevents the
cushion of air in this chamber from escaping through passage A7 and at its
outlet A has another such skirt or wall that provents the air cushion from
escaping from the chamber A³ by this outlet.
Now in the operation of this pump when the plunger I descends it sucks water
through inlet passage A³ and the passago A³ into the water chamber W and when
said plunger rises it displaces or forces out the water above the plunger in
chamber W down the passage A³ and at the same time this movement of the
plunger creates a suction in A¹ and the passages A' which lifts the valve A¹ and
allows the water expelled from W to pass through this valve and the passages A¹
to the chamber A¹ or lower side of the plunger.
As the plunger now descends it again fills chamber W by suction from the
source of supply and expels the water in chamber A¹ through passage A³ valve Aº
and passage A' down into the air chamber A³ and here this water compresses tho
air cushion which in expanding causes the water to issue at the outlet A10 in a
nearly continuous stream. It will be seen in the operation of this part of the
engine that in expelling the water from chamber A¹ the plunger I is single acting
in effect only, but in filling this chamber it is double acting since it fills this
chamber in rising both by displacing or expelling the water from chamber W and
also by creating a partial vacuum in A¹ and the passages A which causes the
valve A¹ to rise and the water from the chamber W to be transferred therethrough
to chamber A¹. This water it will be seen passes through the valve A in preference
to passing out the inlet passage for two reasons first for the reason that a suction
exists upon the other side of the valve and secondly, because it meets the ramming
action or momentum of the water entering the inlet passage A. For draining
the two chambers A' and A8 when the pump is not in use a long screw plug A" is
removed. The valves A and A" are in the nature of discs playing upon a stem
rising from spider frame seats and backed by springs as shown. The valve A" is
located at a lower level than A° and has above it a hollow filling block B'. The
cap D also has within it an air chamber having a communicating passage a³ to the
water inlet A to surge up into the chamber in cap D through passage a³
compressing the air and storing up water therein as in a reservoir which causes
the suction of the pump to fill its chamber more quickly.
I will now describe the construction and operation of the steam end of the device.
The stationary head F between the steam and water space is made hollow for
lightness and to avoid too great conductivity between the steam and water space
and it is tightly fitted in the cylinder C being held by pins d d figure 1. This
head projects upwardly into the steam space in the form of a hollow boss of less
diameter than the inner diameter of the cylinder and upon and around it fits loosely
the shell of an inverted cup-shaped piston J figures 12 and 7 connected to the
piston rod G by screw threads. This piston fits snugly against the inner periphery
of the cylinder with a steam tight joint but as before stated does not closely fit the
head F but has a space between the inner surface of the piston shell and the outer
surface of the head or boss which permit steam when admitted to the lower end of
the cylinder to find a working bearing at once against the whole area of the piston.
Upon the cylinder C there is fastened a head or partition plate R figures 1, 2, and 6
and above this a casing K and above this a head N with stuffing box through
which passes an operating rod O with handle for moving the valve by hand in
starting the engine. M is this valve, which is of a hollow cylindrical type and
which fits closely and reciprocates vertically in a shell L within the outer casing K.
The upper portion of this valve slides over ports and governs the admission of
steam to, and its exhaust from the steam cylinder. The lower portion of the valve
is made in the form of an inverted cup shaped piston which is acted upon by steam

page_text: •
to shift the valve over the main ports, the admission and exhaust of steam to and
from the supplementary piston working the main valve being controlled reciprocally
by the movement of main piston J as hereafter described. The general arrange-
ment of this part of the steam end of the engine is very similar to that shown and
described in the prior patent referred to and I will now describe more minutely the
feature which constitute the points of difference.
The steam cylinder is provided at each end with independent inlet and exhaust
ports m m' and n n' figures 2, 4, and 6. The ports m and n open into the cylinder
at the extreme ends thereof and constitute the inlet ports and the ports m¹ and n¹
open about an inch from the ends and constitute the exhaust ports. The object of
this is to allow the piston to catch a portion of steam after it passes the exhaust
ports to form a cushion and avoid the hammering action of the piston against the
heads. The two ports m and m³ which open below the piston pass up side by side
in the wall of the cylinder C and the upper casing K and open (see Figures 2 and 8)
respectively m' into the exhaust orifice E' Figure 8 of shell L and m into steam
orifice S¹ figure 8 of said shell.
The ports n and n¹ which open into the steam cylinder above the piston pass up
side by side in the wall of the cylinder C and the casing K and open respectively
n' into the exhaust orifice E¹ Figure 8 of the shell L and n into the steam orifice S
of said shell. The plate R is provided with holes see figure 6 which register with
these ports. As however the exhaust from the underside of the piston on the
down stroke is assisted by the weight of the piston and its rod, I make the
exhaust orifice m' from below the piston of less size than n¹ above the piston as
shown in figure 6 which reduced size by retarding the exhaust on this stroke
acts as a counterbalance to the weight of the piston and makes it uniform in its
action.
The exhaust port-m² however is only made of reduced size where it passes
through the plate R. Between the exhaust orifices E¹ E2 of the shell L
surrounding the valve there is an intermediate exhaust orifice Ex figures 2 and 8
which is always in communication with the general exhaust pipo ✗. Now the
valve M is provided about its middle and upon its outer periphery with a recess
or elongated channel o adapted to play over the three exhaust orifices E, E¹ Eª
and cover two of them at a time. On each side of this recess there is a steam
orifice o¹ and o² adapted to register with the steam orifices S and S¹ and leading to
the interior or hollow chamber of the valve. This valve and also its shell L have
opposite openings Ps in their sides (see figures 1 and 5) which are always in open
communication with the branched steam passages P' leading around the casing
from the main inlet pipe P.
Now it being understood that steam is always in the chamber of valve M when
this valve is in the position shown in figures 2 and 8 the following actions are
taking place. Live steam is Howing through o¹ to S¹ and through port m to the
lower end of the cylinder and its starting the piston up while the exhaust steam
above the piston is being discharged through port n¹ to orifice E¹ through recess o
in the valvo to E and thence to the general exhaust X. When the piston has
risen to its highest point and the valve M has also been shifted to a higher point
(by means hereafter described) the following action takes place, o' passes out of
.registration with S₁ and o³ passes into registration with S and the recess o covers
the exhaust ports E and E². Live steam then passes through o³ and S to port n
and the upper end of the cylinder and the exhaust below the piston passes up m¹
to E through recess o to E and thence to the general exhaust X. To prevent
valve M from turning axially which would throw its orifices o o¹ o³ out of
registration with E, E³, E², S, S', a guide bolt Q is made to fit in a vertical slot in.
the valve as shown in figures 1 and 5.
I will now proceed to describe how the main piston J is made to shift the steam
valve M for controlling the flow of steam to and from the steam cylinder. This
piston it will be observed is of an inverted cup shape, and its cylindrical shell
portion is made longer than the length of the stroke and its periphery is made to

page_text: act as a slide valve in controlling the flow of steam to and from the underside of
the valve M M. For this purpose the said piston has on its outer periphery a
vertical recess fg figures 7 and 1 of which the lower portion fis twice the width
of g and of which g leads through a channol g' (figure 1) to a central hole e in tho
top of the piston which is most of the time in communication with the steam spaco
above. Leading from one of the steam passages Pl there is a port h formed in the
wall of the casing K and which runs down through the plate R and also in the
wall of the cylinder C and opening through the inner poriphery of the cylinder
against the side of the piston.
Just beside this port in the cylinder there is another h¹ exactly like it terminating
on the same level below but extending only up to the plate R and opening into a
radial channel h² figures 1 and 6 which leads to the channel underneath the piston
of the valve M.
Now when the piston J reaches its highest point its wide recess f covers the
lower ends of both ports h and h¹ and steam then passes from the branched
passage P¹ down h to the wide recess f of the piston then crosswise to the mouth
of port h' then through h¹ and the channel h³ to the underside of the piston M¹ of
the valve M. This serves to shift this valve and gives it its upward movement.
If steam were cut off from h¹ at once by the descent of the piston it would
condense under the valve M M' and would not hold it up positively. I thereford
elongate one side of the recess in the piston as at figure 7 and this elongation is in
the vertical plane of the port h¹ so that until the piston passes down a considerable
distance the pressure of the steam under piston M of the valve is maintained by
steam taken from steam chamber S and passing through hole e passage g¹ to
recess g in the piston and thence up port ¹ to channel 2 and the chamber below
valve piston M. It will therefore be seen that the steam taken through port
shifts the valve and after the piston J starts down the pressure under the valve is
maintained by steam from the cylinder S.
To bring the valve M M¹ down the steam is exhausted from the lower side of its
cup shaped piston as follows:
Leading from the lower side of said piston is a port j figure 1 which descends
through the wall of the cylinder and opens through, the side of the same against
the periphery of the piston. The piston has near its top a horizontal recess k
extending about one fourth around the same. One end of this recess when the
piston is at the lower end of its stroke. covers the lower end of port j and the other
cud of the recess covers the lower end of a port 'figures 1 and 2 formed in the
wall of the casing K and cylinder C and leading to the general exhaust. It will
thus be seen that when the piston J reaches the end of the down stroke and tho
valve M M requires to be changed that steam is discharged from the lower side of
tho valve piston M' through port j recess in the piston and port / to the general
exhaust.
The function of the central pin i depending from plate R will now be described.
This pin exactly fits the hole or recess e in the top of the piston and when the
piston is at the upper end of the cylinder the said pin i closes the orifice of port g¹
Figure 1.
This is very necessary to prevent waste of steam for it will be observed that livo
steam is at this time in the ports h h and the recesses ƒ and g and the stoppage of
port g by pin i prevents live steam from passing into the cylinder above the piston
and passing out of the same with the exhaust.
With respect to the operation of the valvo piston M¹ it will be seen that as in
the prior patent the area of the steam pressure on the underside of said piston is
much greater than it is upon the top side and this piston is worked on its up stroke
by the excess of pressure on its under side over and above this pressure on the
upper side and on the down stroke is worked solely by the pressure of steam on
the upper side the steam below it being exhausted through ports ; and as before
described. The object in making the piston M' cup-shaped is to give its sides a
long bearing against the walls of casing K and still preserve its lightness and the

page_text: reason the cup is inverted is to permit the water of condensation to drain out of
the same through the passage way h. The steam which supplies the space above
the piston M¹ is taken from the interior of the valve through the hole r figures 2
and 8 and the passage ways at one of which 8 is formed in the inner periphery of
the shell L (see figure 8) and the other t in the outer surface of the cylindrical
portion of the valve M and which two passage ways pass into registration soon
after the valve starts on its upward movement.
"
To prevent the valve M Mɩ from hammering the heads N and R, I cushion tho
valve with live steam at each end as follows:
The exhaust port ; figure 1 opens into the chamber below piston M¹a short
distance above the lower end of the chamber, and just when the piston M' cuts off
this exhaust live steam passes from the upper side of this piston to the lower side
through the passage thus cushioning the valve on its down stroke. An exhaust
passage figure 2 also leads from above the valve M to the general exhaust and
also opens into the casing a short distance below the end of the up stroke and as
soon as the valve M cuts off this exhaust live steam passes through a hole in tho
valve and through the passage in the shell to the upper side of the valve thus
cushioning the valve on its up stroke.
In working this pumping engine it is very desirable to have means provided for
affording access to the stuffing box c and the water plunger I for tightening up the
same and for this purpose I construct the lower end of the cylinder C with a laterally
opening hand hole opening into the chamber W. as follows:
Referring to figures 2 and 3 the chamber W has a lateral opening of circular form
covered by a head plate H¹ which is held upon the face of the opening by a turn
bar T having a screw stem U which passes through the head plate and is provided
with a nut V which forces the head plate to a solid and tight bearing against the
face of the opening. The turn bar Thas at each end a tongue that fits in the recess
between the flanges t, t, u u, and one of the said sets of flanges-t.t.has an outlet at
the bottom, and the other at the top, so that in fitting the turn bar, it is inserted
in a nearly vertical position and is then turned horizontally into the grooves
between the flanges. In the engine as thus described it will be seen that the
piston J has the primary function of a piston and a secondary function of a slido
valve controlling steam to the main valve above, and the main valve M M' above
has a primary function of a valve to control the flow of steam to the main piston
and a secondary function of a piston to give it the necessary notion. The main
piston and main valve therefore have a reciprocal relation to each other operating
together automatically and smoothly without any direct or positive connection.
As the piston J is round and might turn axially out of registration with the ports
in the cylinder I form on the inner wall of the piston shell a rib or feather f³
figure 2 that enters a groove in the boss of the head F which prevents the piston
from turning.
"
In the construction of the valve M I make the part M² which bears against the
perforated side of shell L in a separate piece fitted however snugly in cylindrical
periphery of the valve and forming a segment thereof. The object of this is to
cause the steam to press the part M³ to close contact with the wearing surfaces
about the orifices E, S & so as to take up looseness due to wear and thus make a
tight steam joint at this point.
One of the most prominent peculiarities of this pump is its automatic valve gear
and quick return plunger which moves down at a given speed and rises inore
quickly. Its steam valve is operated without the aid of tappets, compound levers,
cains or metallic connections of any kind. It neither strikes a blow nor operates
suddenly upon the plunger. The piston cushions noiselessly upon steam at the
end of each stroke, recedes gradually for an instant until the water valves close,
and then completes its stroke. There is no outside moving gear or delicate
adjustment. In the steam chest there are but two pieces, a slide valvo and a
differential piston to move the valve which constitutes the entire valve gear. The
steam piston and water plunger are cast in one piece of steel or composition, as

page_text: desired. The stuffing boxes and water valve seats are made of composition, the
links and bolts that hold the valve caps are steel, and all other bolts are case-
hardened. The supply exhaust suction and discharge openings are right and left,
and all joints are ground to a fit. It has but two water valves, though possessing
the same advantages, as respects a steady flow as the double acting pump by
reason of the quick return of the plunger and the creating of suction power on
both the up and down stroke. The quick return movement of the piston prevents
any vibration or quake that usually accompanies quick reciprocating motion.
There is no motion of any kind in view except the valve stem at the very top of
the pump which moves about one inch, and is entirely covered when desired for
mining or other purposes
On the side of the cylinder there is an opening for the purpose of easily and
quickly getting to the main stuffing box by removing a single bolt. By reason of
the entire absence of metallic connections cams compound levers or tappets a more
rapid stroke can be attained than by any other pump without jar or noise. By.
reason of suction power on both strokes of the piston, and by its quick return a
flow is attained as by double acting pumps. The pump being vertical there is no
wear to the cylinder or piston occasioned by the weight of the piston, as is the
caso with horizontal pumps, and hence is far more durable.
The power of the steam acting directly upon the water plunger, is an economy
of steam power. There can be no such thing as dead centres, and hence it can be
operated slower than any pump in use. It can be run with economy at ono
stroke or 500 strokes per minute. It is perfectly noiseless, so that a person might
stand within a few feet of it and not hear the motion oven though running at
500 strokes per minute. All joints are carefully ground to a fit, thus avoiding
the frequent blowing out of packing and the delay and expense attending it.
The pump being vertical, all foreign substances pass under or below the plunger,
thus preventing all abrasion or cutting so destructive to other pumps.
This pump is so arranged that a different water cylinder may at any time be
put in at trifling cost, if greater power or greater capacity is desired without the
expense of a new pump.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is:
1 A steam pump consisting of a cylinder H open at both ends and having its
ends surrounded by independent chambers, a plunger playing in said cylinder, a
valve opening outward from one of said end chambers, and a valve opening
outward from one end chamber and inward to the other end chamber whereby tho
pump is made on one stroke to expel the water from one end chamber and fill the
other from the main supply; and on the other stroke is made to transfer the water
from one end chamber to the other, as described.
2nd The combination of the base A having chambers A¹ A³ A® and passage
ways A³ A* A* and A' the valves A and A1, the cylinder H open at both ends and
arranged as described, the piston I and the chamber W substantially as shown and
described.
3rd The combination with the base A and valve A1 of the filling block B³ cap D
and bail E as and for the purpose described.
4th In a direct acting steam pump the combination with a steam piston and
water plunger connected together of a single enclosing case surrounding the whole
and and having a hand holo and detachable head plate covering the same located
between the steain and water chambers as described.
5th The water chamber W having a holo in its side provided with ribs or
flangest and u u in combination with the turn bar T having screw stem U the
head plate H and nut V substantially as shown and described.
6th The cylinder C having a partition head F fixed therein a stuffing box c at its
lower end and a hand hole opening laterally into the cylinder below this point
as described,

page_text: 7th The combination with the cylinder C of the partition head F having
upwardly projecting boss of less diameter than the cylinder and the piston made
of an inverted cup shape and having its shell adapted to fit between said boss and
the cylinder as described.
8th The combination with the valve of a direct acting pump of the cylinder
having ports therein opening through its inner periphery and a working piston
having passage ways or ports opening upon its periphery and adapted to register
with the ports of the cylinder as described.
9th The combination with the steam chamber of a direct acting pump of an
independent induction and exhaust port for each end of the steam chamber formed
in the wall of the chamber to cushion the piston, substantially as shown and
described.
10th In a direct acting pump the combination of the steam piston and the main
steam valve the piston having the primary function of transmitting working power
and the secondary function of a slide valve to operate the main steam valve, and
the main steam valve having the primary function of regulating steam to the main
steam piston and the secondary function of a piston operated in turn by the working
piston the two being disconnected as described.
11th The combination with the valve M having piston M of the casing K having
- port. leading from the steam supply plate R having passage way h² cylinder C
having two ports h¹ side by side, and the piston having recess f for admitting
steam to the lower end of the valve as set forth.
12th The combination with the valve M having piston M of the casing and
cylinder having ports ; and land the piston J having passage way k for exhausting
the team from beneath the valve as described.
-13th The combination of the piston with hole e port g¹ and clongated recess g
the cylinder port and the plate R-having-passage-way - whereby the pressure
of steam below the valve piston M¹ is maintained by open communication with the
stcam chamber S after steam from port h has been cut off as set forth.
14th The piston J made longer than the stroke and having the construction of a
slide valve in combination with the cylinder having ports therein as described
15th The inverted cup shaped piston constructed as a slide valve with recesses
combined with the boss. F of less diameter and having a feather and groove
connection therewith to prevent turning axially as described.
:
16th The valve M in combination with its case having exhaust passages & and j
near the end of its stroke and live steam passages and adapted to throw live
steam to the end of the valve to cushion it just as the valve cuts off its exhaust
passages, as described.
17th The valve M having its side M2 which is opposite the orifices E S made
separate and passed to close contact with the metal forming said orifices by the live
steam as described.
18th The base A having inlet A' in combination with the hollow cap D having a
passage a³ connected with the said inlet or suction side of the pump.
In witness whereof I the said William Clark have hereunto set my hand and
scal this first day of February A.D. 1884.