IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS, AND IN VALVES USED FOR PUMPING WATER, AIR, AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Pearn and Sinclair Pearn, of the City of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM PUMPS, AND IN VALVES USED FOR PUMPING WATER, AIR, AND
OTHER FLUIDS."
Sealed the 12th April 1878, and dated the 19th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Pearn and Sinclair
Pearn at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October
1877.
FRANK PEARN and SINCLAIR PEARN, of the City of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS, AND IN VALVES USED
FOR PUMPING WATER, AIR, AND OTHER FLUIDS."
Firstly. Our Invention relates to direct-acting steam pumps, and consists in the
combination, arrangement, and construction of the mechanism for actuating the main
steam valve.
We cast the steam cylinder for the main piston and the valve chest in one piece
with small cylinders formed at each end of the valve chest, which cylinders are
bored out so that a piston can work in each of them, these two piston being
connected with each other by a rod, and with the main steam valve at the centre,
which is an ordinary slide valve of the usual construction except as herein-after
mentioned.
The two outer ends of the small steam cylinders are closed by covers, but the two
inner ends are open to the steam in the valve chest.
The main steam valve is moved by admitting to and exhausting steam from the
spaces between the small pistons and the outer ends of their cylinders by means of
a separate slide valve for each small cylinder, and suitable passages communicating
with the main exhaust passage. These small slide valves are each actuated by a
bell-crank lever on a fulcrum pin in the valve chest, one arm of each bell crank
passing into the main steam cylinder, the other arm into a cavity in the small
Ponies CJ7

page_text: valve, there being a slot for each bell crank between the valve chest and the
cylinder.
The small slide valves cover the top of the bell-crank arms and the slots, so that
steam cannot pass from the valve chest to the cylinder through these slots.
The two small valves are connected together by a rod which passes through a slot
which divides the main steam valve.
When the main piston arrives at one end of its stroke it comes against one arm of
the bell-crank lever at that end, and moves the small valves; this allows steam to
exhaust from one small piston and pass into the other small piston, and this gives
movement to the main steam valve. The small steam valves and main steam valve
are reversed in like manner, when the main steam piston arrives at the other end
of its stroke.
Secondly. Our Invention relates to valves used for pumping fluids, and are
particularly applicable for great speeds, producing noiseless action. The clacks of
valves have already been made of discs of india-rubber, but with such valves springs
have hitherto had to be employed to obtain a satisfactory action.
Our Invention consists in making valve clacks of discs of india-rubber, but of
such section, form, or shape, that the disc clack will close promptly by its own
elasticity, and we obtain this result by moulding or shaping the disc, so that it is
thinnest at its periphery, and then increases in thickness towards its centre, which
is formed into a boss through a hole in which a bolt is passed to secure the clack to
its seating. We use these clacks to form one valve, but our Invention further
consists in combining a series of them together to form one valve.
We prefer to make the valve seating of cylindrical shape with flat sides or.
places to form seatings for the improved disc clacks, the flat end of the cylinder
having a seating also for one or more of the improved clacks. By this arrangement
we obtain by simple means numerous large and easy passages for the fluid, with but
comparatively small openings or action in the clacks, and freedom from noise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Pearn and Sinclair Pearn in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th April 1878.
FRANK PEARN and SINCLAIR PEARN, of the City of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineers. " IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS, AND IN VALVES USED
FOR PUMPING WATER, AIR, AND OTHER FLUIDS."
Firstly. Our Invention relates to direct-acting steam pumps, and consists in the
combination, arrangement, and construction of the mechanism for actuating the
main steam valve.
We cast the steam cylinder for the main piston and the valve chest in one piece,
with small cylinders formed at each end of the valve chest, which cylinders are
bored out so that a piston can work in each of them, these two pistons being con-
nected with each other by a rod, and with the main steam valve at the centre,
which is an ordinary slide valve of the usual construction except as herein-after
mentioned.
The two outer ends of the small steam cylinders are closed by covers, but the two
inner ends are open to the steam in the valve chest.
The main steam valve is moved by admitting to and exhausting steam from the
spaces between the small pistons and the outer ends of their cylinders by means of
a separate slide valve for each small cylinder, and suitable passages communicating
with such valve and the main exhaust passage. Those small slide valves are each
actuated by a bell-crank lever on a fulcrum pin in the valve chest, one arm of each
bell crank passing into the main steam cylinder, the other arm into a cavity in
the small valve, there being a slot for each bell crank between the valve chest and
cylinder.
The small slide valves cover the top of the bell-crank arms and the slots, so that
steam cannot pass from the valve chest to the cylinder through these slots.
The two small valves are connected together by a rod which passes through a
slot in the maim steam valve.
When the main piston arrives at one end of its stroke, it comes against one arm
of the bell-crank lever at that end, and moves the small valves; this allows steam
to exhaust from one small piston, and pass into the other small piston, and this
gives movement to the main steam valve. The small steam valves and main steam
valve are reversed in like manner when the main steam piston arrives at the other
end of its stroke.
Secondly. Our Invention relates to valves used for pumping fluids, and are parti-
cularly applicable for great speeds, producing noiseless action. The clacks of valves
have already been made of discs of india-rubber, but with such valves spring
have hitherto had to be employed to obtain a satisfactory action.
Our Invention consists in making valve clacks of discs of india-rubber, but of such
section, form, or shape that the disc clack will close promptly by its own elasticity,
and we obtain this result by moulding or shaping the disc, so that it is thinnest at its
periphery, and then increases in thickness towards its centre, which is formed into
a boss, through a hole in which a bolt is passed to secure the clack to its seating.
We use these clacks to form one valve, but our Invention further consists in
combining a series of them together to form one valve.
We prefer to make the valve seating of cylindrical shape, with flat sides or places
to form seatings for the improved disc clacks, the flat end of the cylinder having a
seating also for one or more of the improved clacks. By this arrangement we
obtain by simple means numerous large and easy passages for the fluid, with but
comparatively small openings or action in the clacks, and freedom from noise.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section; and Fig. 2, a cross section, illustrating the first
part of our Invention; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 a plan, partly in
section, illustrating the second part of our Invention.
The pump used in our combined steam pump is of ordinary construction and
arrangement, and therefore its connection with the steam cylinder is not illustrated
by the Drawings.

page_text: a is the piston of the steam cylinder; and a¹ is the piston rod connected directly
with the rod for the pump; b is the steam cylinder with steam chest cast with it,
the two ends of which are bored out to form small cylinders c to be fitted each with
a piston c¹ connected by a rod c, which rod is also connected with the main slide
valve d, as shown. There are covers at each end of the valve chest, one of them
baving a gland for a rod c¹ to pass through, connected with the small pistons c¹ for
moving them when necessary. There is a port in the valve chest for each small
piston, with a passage c³ to the outer end of each small cylinder c, and there is
also a small exhaust port for each small cylinder, which communicates by a
passage with the main exhaust passage (e). There is a small slide valve ƒ for each
small cylinder c, which valves are connected together by a rod f', as shown, which
rod passes through a slot formed in the main slide valve (d), as shown. There is
a slot at each end of the main cylinder, in which a bell-crank lever g is placed,
which works upon a fulcrum formed by the end of a set screw or bolt g₁ screwed in
the side of the steam chest, so as be steam-tight. The upright arm of each bell-
crank lever g works in a slot in its valve, which at all times, when working, covers
the slot between the steam chest and cylinder.
In Fig. 1. the main piston (a) is supposed to be travelling in the direction pointed
by the arrow, and the valves are shown in the positions they occupy when such
movement in the main piston is taking place, and calling the piston rod side of the
main piston the front end of the cylinder, the steam is exhausting from that end,
and entering to the back end of the cylinder b; the steam has also entered the back
small cylinder (c), and is and has been exhausted from the front small cylinder (c).
When the main piston (a) arrives near the front end of its stroke, its edge comes
against the lower arm of the bell-crank lever g at that end of the cylinder (b), and
reverses the positions of the small valves (f), and this allows the steam to exhaust
from the back small cylinder (c), and enter the front small cylinder (c), which
reverses the main valve d, and so on in like manner for each stroke. The small
valves are made with a small hole (shown black) for the exhaust from the small
cylinders c, the holes being of such size as to allow the steam to exhaust slowly
and form a "cushion" for the small pistons when they move over; h is a cover for
the valve chest, which gives access to the valves.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the second part of our Invention. a is the seating,
which may be made with a number of flat sides, as shown, each for a separate valve.
These valves bare each moulded in the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in one piece,
thin at the periphery, and then increasing in thickness to a boss, through which a
set screw 61 is passed, as shown, to secure each of them against its facing. The
passages c for the fluid are formed as illustrated in Fig. 4.
We have now particularly described the nature of our Invention and the mode
of carrying the same into effect, and claim as our Invention,-
Firstly. The combination and arrangement of steam cylinder and valve mechanism
for direct-acting steam pumps, substantially as herein-before described, and
illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2.
Secondly. The construction of india-rubber clacks or valves (b), each moulded or
formed in one piece, substantially as described, and also the arrangement of such
valves, substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frank Pearn and Sinclair Pearn, have here-
unto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight,
FRANK PEARN.
(L.B.)
SINCLAIR PEARN. (L.B.)