Improvements in Apparatus for Draining Towns and other Places.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1897-Accepted. 27th Nov. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Draining Towns and other Places.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT RENSHAW, of Queen Anne's Mansions, Westminster in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The improvements relate to the well known system in which the local drains dis-
charge into small sumps or reservoirs from which the drainage is automatically
raised into main or branch drains at a higher level.
According to this invention each reservoir is provided with a weighted ram
similar to that of an accumulator the ram being gradually raised by a motor and
released by a float or otherwise when the reservoir is full thus suddenly discharg-
ing the drainage from it and giving a good flush to the main drains.
Preferably a constantly running electric motor is employed which simply runs
light at very small cost when the ram is fully raised.
Preferably also two motors are employed the second being only started if (by
reason of a storm or other cause) the reservoir fills quicker than the ram is being
raised. For this purpose an overflow is provided from the top of the reservoir
into a vessel containing a float connected to the starting mechanism.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1896.
Improvements in Apparatus for Draining Towns and other Places.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT RENSHAW, of Queen Anne's Mansions, Westminster in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The improvements relate to the well known system in which the local drains
discharge into small sumps or reservoirs from which the drainage is automatically
raised into main or branch drains at a higher level.
According to this invention each reservoir is provided with a weighted ram
similar to that of an accumulator the ram being gradually raised by a motor and
released by a float or otherwise when the reservoir is full thus suddenly dis-
charging the drainage from it and giving a good flush to the ntain drains.
Preferably a constantly running electric motor is employed which simply runs
light at very small cost when the ram is fully raised.

page_text: Preferably also two motors and two rams are employed the second being only
started if (by reason of a storm or other cause) the reservoir fills quicker than the
ram is being raised. For this purpose an overflow is provided from the top of
the reservoir into a vessel containing a flost connected to the starting mechanism.
Figure 1 is an end elevation (partly in section) and Figure 2 a front elevation 5
of an appkratas constructed according to this invention.
A is the cylinder provided with an inlet valve A' on the pipe leading from the
local drain and an outlet valve As on the pipe leading to a main or branch drain
at a higher level.
The ram A3 works in the cylinder A and is supported by the band K winding 1
round the drum J actuated by suitable gearing as explained below by means of
the motor shaft M.
This shaft has a worm B keyed on it, driving the worm wheel C, which latter
drives the shaft D by means of a clutch N.
The shaft D has a worm E keyed on it, and this drives the worm wheel F 1
keyed on the shaft G upon which the drum J is carried. The drum J shown to a
larger scale at Figs. 3 and 4 is loose upon boes of the disc H, being driven by
means of pawls 00 which gear into teeth formed on inside of the drum and
which are thrown in and out of gear by mechanism hereinafter described.
Attached to the worm wheel C and always revolving with it is a cam or
eccentric P which gives a reciprocating motion to the rod Q and slide R shown to
a larger scale at Fig. 5. The slide R has in it a slot S in which are fitted the
catches T and T which are raised or lowered by means of a float U connected
by levers V. W. X and Y. and nods Z Z¹ and Z Z³.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The ram A being at the bottom and clutch N, and pawls 00 being in gear,
the motor M is started, raising the ram to the top of the stroke; when nearing
the top of its stroke the ram strikes the lever L, throwing the clutch N out of gear
and stopping the shaft D, worm gear E and F and drum J. The motor continues
running and the
the sewerage or other liquid matter running into the
in turn by means of
empty chamber A raises the float U, which
the levers (and rods before described raises the catches T and T which are con-
stantly reciprocated along with slide R by means of the cam P. The catch T
strikes the end of the lever B₁ and by means of the rod C, lever D', shaft E¹, and
fork F¹ forces the cone G towards the disc H. The cone G₁ bearing against
rollers Hand He throws the pawls O. O out of gear, thus releasing drum J and
allowing the ram A to descend by its own weight forcing the contents of the
chamber A through the delivery valve A
When
As the nam descends the lever L is brought down by means of balance weight L
throwing the clutch into gear again, and starting the worm gear EF. and
shaft G, but not the drum J because the pawls 0. O are still out of gear.
the ram nears the bottom of its stroke it depresses the float U by means of the
tappet M which strikes the lever V; this removes the catch T from contact with
the lever B and brings down the catch T at same time, which latter engages with
the projections Ms M³ (see Figs. 5 and 6) on the lever B₁ and moving with recipro-
cating slide R pushes back the lever Bi and consequently withdraws the cone G₁
allowing the pawls 0.0 to be forced into gear by means of the springs N N thus
causing the drum J to revolve and again wind up the ram A to the top of its
stroke whore it stops until the float chamber is again filled and the operation
repeated.
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 ]
claim is :-
1. The combination with a sump or reservoir of a gradually rising and suddenly
falling ram substantially as described.
2. The combination of a sump or reservoir, a ram, a constantly running moto

page_text: lifting the ram and means for disconnecting the motor from the ram when the
sump or reservoir is full substantially as described.
3. Apparatus for draining towns and other places substantially as described and
shown in the drawings.