AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR WORKING BILGE PUMPS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Anderson, of Southwark Street, in the Borough
of Southwark, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OF
APPARATUS FOR WORKING BILGE PUMPS." A communication from abroad by
Stephen Makaroff, of Cronstadt, in the Empire of Russia.
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 11th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Anderson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1876.
"
WILLIAM ANDERSON, of Southwark Street, in the Borough of Southwark, Engi-
neer. AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR WORKING BILGE PUMPS."
The object of this Invention is to provide a means of driving by steam power on
an emergency the bilge pumps of steam vessels, and thereby, in the event of a
serious leak, to keep the injured vessel afloat until it can be propelled into a place of
safety. To this end a centrifugal pump of dimensions corresponding to the possible
requirements of the vessel or the powers of the engine to which it is to be applied
is mounted low down in the hold, and on its axle is fitted loosely a spur pinion
carrying a clutch face on its side. This pinion receives motion direct from the pro-
peller shaft by means of a spur wheel keyed on to it. The pump axle is provided with
a feather for receiving a sliding clutch which when brought into contact with the
loose clutch of the pinion will lock it to the axle and cause it, through its connec-
tion with the propeller shaft, to work the pump.
By withdrawing the sliding clutch out of contact the pump will be disconnected
from the propeller shaft. In some cases the pump may be driven direct from the
propeller shaft, without the intervention of gearing, by means of the clutch above
described. In order, however, that the centrifugal pump may act it is necessary
that it should be immersed in or filled with water. This would of course take place
if the bilge water were allowed to accumulate in the hold to a depth equal to the
diameter of the pump; but to avoid this, and to ensure the immediate action of the
pump when motive power is applied thereto by means of the clutch, the delivery
pipe of the pump, the outer end of which is closed by a valve opening outwards, is
A valve in this
connected by a pipe with the vacuum chamber of the condenser.
connecting pipe serves to open and cut off the connection of the vacuum chamber
with the pump at pleasure. When this valve is opened the bilge water will
be drawn into and caused to fill the pump case, and rotary motion being then

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Anderson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th Sep-
tember 1876.
WILLIAM ANDERSON, of Southwark Street, in the Borough of Southwark, Engi-
neer. "AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR WORKING BILGE PUMPS."
A communication from abroad by Stephen Makaroff, of Cronstadt, in the Empire
of Russia.
The object of this Invention is to provide on an emergency a means of driving by
steam power the bilge pumps of steam vessels, and thereby in the event of a serious
leak to keep the injured vessel afloat until it can be propelled into a place of safety.
To this end a centrifugal pump (of the ordinary construction, and of dimensions
corresponding to the possible requirements of the vessel to which it is to be applied
or the powers of the engine) is inounted low down in the hold. In order to drive
the pump a spur pinion carrying a clutch face on its side may be mounted loosely
on the pump axle, and this pinion will receive motion direct from the propeller shaft
by means of a spur wheel keyed on to it. The pump axle is provided with a fenther
for receiving a sliding clutch, which, when brought into contact with the loose clutch
of the pinion, will lock it to the axle, and cause it, through its connection with the
propeller shaft, to work the pump.
By withdrawing the sliding clutch out of contact the pump will be disconnected
from the propeller shaft. In this arrangement the spur wheel on the propeller shaft
and the pinion with its clutch are always in motion when the propeller shaft is at
work. This may, however, be considered objectionable; the pump may, however, be
driven direct from the propeller shaft (without the intervention of gearing) by means
of the clutch above described, or the pump may be mounted on the propeller shaft
itself.
The construction and arrangement of parts, which, however, I prefer for the pur-
poses of the present Invention, are shown in the accompanying Drawings, in which
Fig. 1, Sheet I. is an end elevation (partly in section) shewing a centrifugal pump
arranged in the hold of a vessel in the manner and for the purpose above mentioned.
The sectional view is taken through the centre of the pump.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus, shewing part of the clutch in section;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 4 is another side elevation, in which one half of the box or casing of the
pump or fan is removed in order that the internal parts may be more clearly seen,
the large spur wheel which drives the pump being also removed, so that the face of
the clutch may be seen. The centrifugal pump a, a, (which may be of the ordinary
or any suitable construction), is mounted on an axle b, b, which is placed as low as
possible down in the hold. On this axle b is mounted a toothed pinion e which gears
into and is driven by a large spur wheel & mounted loosely on the propeller shaft c.
On one of the faces of this spur wheel are formed a number of concentric friction
rings (shown at d', Fig. 2) corresponding to a similar arrangement of concentric
friction rings made on the face of the clutch f, which is keyed fast on the propeller
shaft e, and consequently rotates therewith. In Fig. 4 the face of the clutch fis
clearly seen as the large spur wheel & has been removed for the purpose. The spur
wheel d being mounted loosely on the shaft e is capable of being moved longitudi-
nally thereon, in order that it may be either drawn away from or forced into contact
with the rotating clutch f, which is keyed on to the shaft c.
It will now be understood that when the spur wheel dis drawn away from the
clutch it will remain quiescent, and will not rotate with the shaft e; but when it is
pressed forcibly against the rotating clutch ƒ it will be carried round by the latter,

page_text: and will consequently impart motion to the pinion c and drive the centrifugal pump.
In order, however, that the centrifugal pump may act properly, it is necessary that
it should be immersed in the water, that is, the water should completely cover the
pump, or the case may be filled with water. This would of course take place if the
bilge water wero allowed to accumulate in the hold to a depth equal to the diameter
of the pump; but to avoid this, and to ensure the immediate pumping action of
the pump, when rotary motion is communicated thereto by means of the clutch f, the
delivery pipe of the pump (the outer end of which is closed by a valve opening out-
wards) is connected by a pipe with the vacuum chamber of the condenser. A valve
in this connecting pipe will serve to open and cut off the connection of the vacuum
chamber with the pump at pleasure. The condenser and its connection are not
shewn in the Drawing as they are of the ordinary construction and form no part of
the present Invention.
The arrangements necessary to connect the condenser with the bilge pump can be
easily made by any intelligent mechanic.
When the valve connected with the condenser is opened a partial vacuum will be
produced in the pump case, and the bilge water will be drawn into and caused to
fill the pump case, and rotary motion being then imparted to the pump it will effect
a rapid and steady discharge of the bilge water, and will maintain the same so long
as the engines are capable of propelling the vessel.
I would here remark, although in the accompanying Drawings I have shewn a
convenient mode of throwing the clutch in and out of gear for the purpose of driving
or stopping the pump, I do not mean to confine myself thereto, as it may be con-
sidered more convenient and desirable to throw the parts in and out of gear by
means of mechanism worked from a higher level than the bottom of the hold.
mechanical devices of this kind are well known, and form no part of the present
Invention, I have not considered it necessary to give any detailed description of such
parts.
As
As a modification of the above-described arrangement the rotary pump may be
mounted direct on the propeller shaft, and will consequently always rotate there-
with, but the pump will not throw any water unless the water rises sufficiently
high in the hold to fill the pump case, or unless a vacuum be produced in the case
by connecting the latter with the vacuum chamber of the condenser, as above
described.
From the above description of the Invention it will be seen that the arrangement
and construction of the parts above shewn and described, permit of a vast amount of
power being applied to pumping purposes, without the necessity of having an extra
engine. When the pump is at work the ship will go somewhat slower, because a
portion of the power of the engine which drives the propeller is used to drive the
pump. It is believed, however, that nearly one half of the power of the engine
may be used to drive the bilge pump without materially reducing the speed of the
ship.
Having now described the Invention of "An Improved Arrangement of Apparatus
for working Bilge Pumps," which has been communicated to me by my foreign cor-
respondent, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim,
as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid, placing a centrifugal
pump low down in the hold of the vessel, and connecting it with the propeller shaft
by gearing or otherwise, so that it may be driven therefrom as and for the purpose
herein set forth, without the necessity of having an additional or auxiliary engine
for the purpose as heretofore.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Anderson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
W. ANDERSON. (L.S.)