Improvements in Rotating Cylinder Pumps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Rotating Cylinder Pumps.
We, ROBERT RICHARDSON, of 16, Jamieson Street, Govanhill, Engineer, and
FARQUHAR MATHESON, of 231, Saint Vincent Street, Measurer, both in the City
of Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of pump wherein a number
of cylinders are disposed in approximately radial or tangential lines around a
central boss on which they are cast or fitted to rotate therewith upon a fixed shaft
or centre through which the inlet and outlet passages for the water or other fluid
are formed.
The inner ends of the cylinders are formed with ports passing through the
boss and preferably through an inner liner of brass or lignum vitae, whilst the
outer ends are open and are fitted with pistons having connecting rods whose
ends are attached to a disc (or pair of discs) carried by a driving shaft which is
eccentric to that whereon the boss revolves. The disc or discs and cylinder cast-
ing are connected by coupling rods so that they rotate in unison and a true relation
is maintained between them, whilst reciprocating motion is imparted to the
several pistons through their connecting rods owing to the disc and cylinder cast-
ing on different centres. By means of the ports or passages in the fixed centre
and the ports in the cylinder ends each cylinder communicates alternately with
the inlet and discharge passages, and the water from the inlet is forced by the
action of the pistons through the discharge passage. In lieu of the connecting
rods attached to the disc, other means may be employed for reciprocating the
pistons.
The fixed centre on which the cylinder casting revolves is preferably placed
horizontally and the inlet port for the water is formed round the lower side whilst
the outlet port is formed at the upper part of the centre, the centre being thus
reduced to a web separating the inlet and discharge. In order that a water tight
joint may be maintained notwithstanding wear of the liner and centre, the dis-
charge or outlet is made much smaller than the inlet and the liner bears on a
portion of the fixed centre which preferably does not extend around more than
a third of the perimeter. Thus whilst by wear the liner may become an easy
fit around the inlet with which the cylinders are in communication for about two-
thirds to three-fourths of the stroke, it continues to bear closely on the upper
portion of the centre within which the discharge passage is formed. The web
which separates the inlet and discharge at the points where the liner bears on it
it preferably slightly smaller than the ports leading to the cylinder ends, in order
that the flow of water from the cylinders may not at any time be entirely shut,
off. During a portion of the stroke of each piston the water is allowed to return
to the inlet passage and the full stroke, is not utilized, but only a portion which
may be taken at the most effective travel of the pistons.
The driving spindle may be pressed from its outer end' so' as to press against

page_text: the cylinder boss, which in turn bears against an enlarged part of the fixed centre
so as to prevent leakage of the inlet.
In lieu of the cylinders being fixed to the boss and the pistons reciprocating,
the inverse arrangement may be adapted in which the pistons are cast on the
boss and the cylinders reciprocate and are attached by connecting rods, to the
driving disc or discs.
The cylinders are intended to be rotated at a high speed and the number of
cylinders (of which there are preferably five) should be such as to give a con-
tinuous uniform flow and entirely do away with pulsation. Owing to the ligh
speed it may be found necessary to force the water into the inlet, and where
pressure is not available a centrifugal pump may be fitted on the driving spindle
the discharge from which would go to the inlet of the improved rotating pump.
Dated this 4th day of July 1899.
'
Improvements in Rotating Cylinder Pumps.
We, ROBERT RICILARDSON, of 16, Jamieson Street, Govanhill, Engineer; and
FARQUHAR MATHESON, of 231, Saint Vincent Street, Measurer, both in the City
of Glasgow, 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 improved construction of pump wherein a number
of cylinders are disposed in approximately radial or tangential lines around a
central boss on which they are cast or fitted to rotate therewith upon a fixed shaft
or centre through which the inlet and outlet passages for the water or other fluid
are formed.
T
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 being an
elevation with the front plate of the casing removed, and showing part of the
pump in section, Fig. 2 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1, and Fig. 3
is a horizontal section on the line -, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view corresponding
to Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 a view corresponding to Fig. 2, of a modification in which
two series of cylinders are arranged along the central boss side by side, the centre
lines of one series being equidistant between the other series so as to give a ten
cylinder effect. Figs. 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2, but
showing the outer casing dispensed with and a light box substituted.
As shown by these drawings a number of cylinders A are formed in a single
casting or carrier which is fitted on or has a boss A' formed integral therewith..
The inner ends of the cylinders A are formed with ports A passing through the
boss and preferably through an inner liner of brass, lignum vitae or other
material, revolving upon a fixed central stud II secured to the casing I, whilst the
outer ends are open and are fitted with pistons or plungers having connecting
rods whose ends are attached to a dise E (or pair of discs bolted together as in
the modifications shown,) carried by a driving shaft F which is eccentric to that
whereon the boss revolves. The disc or discs E and cylinder casting or carrier
are connected by cranked coupling rods G so that they rotate in unison and a
true relation is maintained between them, whilst reciprocating motion is imparted
to the several pistons through their connecting rods D owing to the disc or
discs E and cylinder casting. rotating on different centres. In the fixed central
stud, Hinlet and discharge passages H¹ and H are formed longitudinally, and

page_text: T
ports II, H, separated from each other by bridge pieces H, H7, communicate
respectively with the inlet and discharge passages. The ports A in the cylinder
carrier boss communicate alternately with the inlet and discharge ports H³, II, so
that the water from the inlet H is forced by the action of the pistons C through
the discharge passage H2. In lieu of the connecting rods D attached to the disc
or discs other means may be employed for reciprocating the pistons or
plungers C.
The fixed central stud H on which the cylinder casting revolves is preferably
placed horiontally and the inlet port H' for the water is formed round the lower
side whilst the outlet port H is formed at the upper part of the centre, the
centre being thus reduced to a web II separating the inlet and discharge passages:
In order that a water tight joint may be maintained notwithstanding wear of
the finer B and central stud H, the discharge or outlet Ha is made much smaller
than the inlet and the liner B. bears on a portion of the fixed central stud, composed
of the two bridge pieces H, H, the portion embraced by the outer edges of these
bridge pieces preferably extending only around about a fourth of the circum-
ference, and placed in such a position relatively to the cylinder carrier as to be
pressed upon by said casting or its liner during the most effective portion of the
piston stroke. Thus whilst by wear the liner B may become an easy fit around
the inlet H with which the cylinders A are in communication for about two-
thirds to three-fourths of the stroke, it continues to bear closely on the upper
portion of the central stud H within which the discharge passage H2 is formed,
whereby leakage between the cylinder casting or its liner and the fixed central
stud is prevented! During a portion of the discharge stroke of each piston C,
viz., the commencement and finish of the stroke, the water is allowed to return
to the inlet passage H' and the full stroke is not utilized, but only a portion, which
may be taken at the most effective travel of the pistons or plungers C; and, in
order to permit of the return of the water, the bridge pieces Ho, H7, which separate
the inlet and discharge ports H³, II, are preferably made slightly smaller than
the ports A leading to the cylinder ends. The flow of water from the cylinders
is thus not at any time entirely shut off, and strain upon the pump is consequently
avoided!
The driving shaft F may be pressed by a spring J from its outer end so as to
press against the cylinder boss A', which in turn bears against an enlarged part
of the fixed central stud H so as to prevent leakage of the inlet H, or the cylinder
boss may bear against a separate boss K surrounding the fixed central stud H and
to which the latter is secured, this boss K being provided in order that the fixed
centre may be more readily removable without disturbing the other parts of the
pump.
In lieu of the cylinders A being fixed to the boss A¹ and the pistons C recipro-
cating, the inverse arrangement may be adopted in which the pistons are cast
on the boss and the cylinders A reciprocate and are attached by connecting rods
to the driving dise or discs.
The cylinders are intended to be rotated at a high speed and the number of
cylinders (of which there must be not less than five, as shown at Figs. 1, 2 and 3,
and may be a multiple of five, as shown at Figs. 4 and 5) should be such as to
give a continuous uniform flow and entirely do away with pulsation. Owing to
the high speed it may be found necessary to force the water into the inlet H', and
where pressure is not available a centrifugal pump may be fitted on the driving
spindle F, the discharge from which would go to the inlet H' of the improved'
rotating pump.
The outer casing I may be dispensed with and a light box M preferably formed
by the discs, as shown at Figs. 6 and 7. be substituted, the end of the central
stud H (and also the liner B when such is used) being bored to admit free passage
of the inlet water which would then fill the box. Any escape of water on the
pressure side would thus pass into the box and thence into the inlet passage where
it would be drawn into and finally expelled from the cylinder.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we .claini is:-
I. A rotating cylinder pump the several parts of which are constructed.
combined and arranged to operate, substantially as described.
2. A rotating cylinder pump consisting of a number of cylinders disposed
radially or tangentially around a central hollow boss, ports communicating with
the bottoms of the cylinders and the centre of the boss, a fixed central stud upon
which the boss of the cylinder casting or carrier revolves, said central stud having
inlet and outlet passages for the water or other liquid, ports in said fixed central
stud communicating periodically with the ports in the bottom of the cylinders,
pistons in said cylinders and rods connecting the pistons with a disc or discs
driven by a shaft eccentric to the fixed central stud upon which the cylinder carrier
revolves and cranked' coupling rods connecting the cylinder carrier with the disc
substantially as described.
3. In a rotating cylinder pump, the combination with the cylinder carrier and
a disc or discs to which the cylinder plungers are attached, said disc or discs
being eccentric to the centre on which the cylinders rotate, of cranked coupling
rods connecting the cylinder carrier and the disc or discs, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
4. In a rotating cylinder pump having a rotating cylinder carrier and a disc
or discs to which the cylinder plungers are attached rotating eccentrically to
said cylinder carrier, a fixed central stud having inlet and outlet passages and
ports and a bearing surface consisting of the bridge pieces between which the
outlet port is situated, said bearing surface extending round about one fourth of
the periphery of the central stud, and being placed in such a position relatively
to the cylinder carrier as to be pressed upon by said carrier or its liner during the
most effective portion of the piston stroke whereby leakage between the fixed
centre and the boss of the cylinder casting is prevented, substantially as described:
Dated this 3rd day of April 1900:-
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agenta,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agent for the Applicant.