IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RAISING LIQUIDS
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th April 1877. A communication
from abroad by Alexandre Buffault, of Lyons, Franco.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RAISING LIQUIDS.”
A communication from abroad by Alexandre Buffault, of Lyons, France.
This Invention relates to apparatus which has a pump barrel wherein works a
solid piston which in its operation descends below and rises above the discharge
orifice. This pump barrel is connected by a tube to other pump barrels, arranged
one below the other in a line with the first-named barrel, and which are provided
with pistons fitted with valves opening upward. The pistons of the two lower
barrels are connected by a rod. The diameter of the upper one is less than that of
the lower one of these two barrels. The lower piston, which is connected to a lever
carrying a counterpoise, in descending causes the said counterpoise to ascend. The
lowest of the said barrels is immersed in the liquid. Considering the solid piston
to have a downward movement, as soon as its lower surface has passed the aforesaid
orifice, there will be caused a pressure upon the liquid contained in the tubes. Then
by reason of the incompressibility of liquids the valve of the second piston will
close, and the said piston will descend. The third piston will also descend the same
distance, and as its displacement leaves behind it a vacuum which is only partially
filled by the descent of the said second piston, it follows therefore that a certain
quantity of liquid is caused by atmospheric pressure to enter the barrel of the third
or lowest barrel or cylinder above the piston therein. The latter in descending
will cause the ascent of the aforesaid counterpoise, which will be caused to act by
its weight when the motive force causes the said piston to rise, and the second
piston will then ascend. The valve of the lowest piston then will close, and the
liquid contained between this piston and the piston above it passes into the space
above this last-named piston.
It will be understood therefore that after a certain number of piston strokes the
liquid that has thus passed above the second piston will arrive at the spout, and
will be discharged at the moment when the first or upper piston is above this
spout.

page_text: This apparatus will be found very servicable in cases where it is necessary to
place the motor more than from eight to nine yards above the liquid, and in a placc
at a considerable distance from the same.
In some instances I employ a pump whose piston is provided with a counter-
weight, which actuates it by the aid of a chain passing over a guide pulley.
In some instances I dispense altogether with a counterpoise or weight, and
employ a float arranged within a chamber constructed below the ascension column.
This float must have such dimensions as will give it the power to raise the second
and third pistons when the first or upper piston is raised, so that it will effectually
replace the said counterpoise.
In another modification of the said Invention the said improved apparatus has a
syphon tube, the short arm of which is bent upward, and is fitted with a large and
small piston, the large piston being above the other piston, and both being con-
nected by a rod. The counterweight is in this case placed on a rod extending
directly upward from the said large piston.