IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Emmett Lawrenco and Edmund Vernon
Porter, both of 36, Parliament Street, Westminster, for the Inven-
Scaled the 23rd April 1875, and dated the 3rd March 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Emmett Lawrence
and Edmund Vernon Porter at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 3rd March 1875.
We, JOHN EMMETT LAWRENCE and EDMUND VERNON PORTER, both
of 36, Parliament Street, Westminster, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in centrifugal pumps,
and the improvements relate to that class of centrifugal pumps in which
a revolving disc or wheel draws in water at its centre on both sides and
discharges it at its periphery into a volute or delivery passage which
surrounds it, and thence into a discharge pipe; and in which also two
suction pipes or passages are led up from the bed on opposite sides of

page_text: the volute, and terminate opposite to the centre of the revolving disc or
wheel to deliver water to it.
We construct pumps of this class in the following manner :-One of
the suction passages we form in a single casting together with the body
of the pump, consisting of the greater part of the circular chamber in
which the disc is received, and of the greater part of the volute or
delivery passage, which is formed around its periphery. In the side of
the volute opposite to the suction passage a circular opening is left,
through which the revolving disc may be inserted or taken out. This
opening is closed by part of a second casting, which has the other suction
passage formed in it. The two castings are formed with flanges at their
base to connect them to a bed or pipe, and also with flanges around part
of their outer edge, where they meet together, so that the two castings
may be firmly connected by studs passing through these flanges. The
abutting faces of these flanges are also parallel with the central line of
the pump, and are exterior of the sides of the volute, by which means
the junction between the flanges can readily be got at and the cover
removed with case whenever required; and in addition the inner
diameter of the volute can be made smaller than has been the case in
pumps in which the cover has been placed against the exterior of the
central circular chamber and the volute has projected out beyond such
cover.
The disc we form in the ordinary manner with passages through it
leading from the central portion of its two sides and terminating at its
periphery. The upper cuds of the suction passages are concentric with
the disc, and fit closely to its sides all around the side entrances to the
passages through it. Each casting is also formed as is usual with a
stuffing box bearing, through which is passed the shaft by which the
disc is carried, and by which it is caused to revolve.
By constructing the pump in this manner it can be made lighter and
more compact and with much less labour than heretofore, and the disc
is more readily accessible in case it should be necessary to examine it or
remove it, all that is necessary being to remove the side cover and to
draw out the disc without in any way interfering with the delivery or
suction pipes; and by reason of the side cover being connected to the
body of the pump in the manner above described this separation of the
cover is very readily effected, whereas when the cover has been recessed
into the volute it has been a difficult if not impossible task to remove it

page_text: after the pump has been working for some time, owing to its getting set
fast with rust. Also by casting the suction passages, together with the
body of the pump and the side cover respectively, the distance between
the stuffing box bearings is less than when the suction passages havo
been in separate parts and have been connected by flanges, as theso
flanges had then to be kept clear of the sides of the volute.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Emmett Lawrence and Edmund Vernon
Porter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd September
1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
EMMETT LAWRENCE and EDMUND VERNON PORTER, both of 36, Parlia-
ment Street, Westminster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said John Emmett Lawrence and Edmund
Vernon Porter, Her special license that we, the said John Emmett
Lawrence and Edmund Vernon Porter, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Emmett Lawrence
and Edmund Vernon Porter, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Emmett Lawrence
and Edmund Vernon Porter, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and scals, or under the
hand and seal of one of us or them, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Emmett Lawrence and
Edmund Vernon Porter, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say:-.
This Invention has for its object improvements in centrifugal pumps,
and the improvements relate to that class of centrifugal pumps in which
a revolving disc or wheel draws in water at its centre on both sides and
discharges it at its periphery into a volute or delivery passage which
surrounds it, and thence into a discharge pipe, and in which also two
suction pipes or passages are led up from the bed or suction pipe on
'opposite sides of the volute and terminate opposite to the centre of the
revolving disc or wheel to deliver water to it.
We construct pumps of this class in the following manner:-One of
the suction passages we form in a single casting together with the body
of the pump, consisting of the greater part of the circular chamber in
which the disc is received, and of the greater part of the volute or
delivery passage, which is formed around its periphery, and also with a
flange around the extremity of the volute for coupling to the delivery
pipe. In the side of the volute opposite to the suction passage a circular
opening is left, through which the revolving disc may be inserted or
taken out. This opening is closed by part of a second casting, which
bas the other suction passage formed in it. The two castings are formed
with flanges around part of their outer edge where they meet together,
so that the two castings may be firmly connected by studs or bolts
passing through these flanges. Both castings are also in some cases
formed with flanges at their base to connect them to a bed. The
abutting faces of these flanges are also at right angles to the axis of the
pump, and are exterior of the sides of the volute. By this means the
construction of the pumps is considerably cheapened, as each of the
parts can readily be turned in an ordinary lathe and the parts be quickly
and accurately fitted together; the junction between the flanges can
also readily be got at and the cover removed with ease whenever
required. In addition the volute can be made smaller than has usually
been the case.
The disc we form in the ordinary manner with passages through it

page_text: periphery.. The upper ends of the suction passages are concentric with
the disc, and fit closely to its sides all around the sido entrances to the
passages through it, as heretofore. Each casting is also formed as is
usual with a stuffing box bearing, through which is passed the shaft by
which the disc is carried and by which it is caused to revolve.
7
By constructing the pump in this manner it can be made lighter and
more compact, and with much less labor than heretofore, and the disc
is more readily accessible in case it should be necessary to examine it or
remove it, all that is necessary being to remove the side cover and to
draw out the disc without in any way interfering with the delivery or
suction pipes, and by reason of the side cover being .connected to the
body of the pump in the manner above described this separation of the
cover is very readily effected, whereas when the cover has been recessed
into the volute it has been a difficult if not impossible task to remove it
after the pump has been working for some time, owing to its getting set
fast. with rust. Also by casting the suction passages together with the
body of the pump and the side cover respectively. the distance between
the stuffing box bearings is less than when the suction passages have
been in. separate parts and have been connected by flanges, as theso
flanges had then to be kept clear of the sides of the volute.
-
In order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily.

page_text: bear upon one another for part of their width, as shown at Figures 1, 2,
and 3, so as to reduce the labor of fitting. E, E, are flanges by which
the castings are secured to the bed plate F. In this bed plate tho
suction passages are led together, as shown at Figure 1, and the suction
pipe is connected to the bottom of the bed, as is now commonly the
case.
It will be seen that the flanges C¹, D³, are all in one plano at right
angles to the axis A, and that they are clear of the side of the volute, so
that they are readily accessible, and no difficulty will be experienced in
taking off the cover. It will also be seen that the amount of surface
which has to be turned or planed is reduced to a minimum, so that but
little expense is incurred in fitting the parts together.
At Figure 5 we have shown a modification of the pump above
described. The pump shown in this Figure is adapted for being placed
at the bottom of a well, and for being worked with a vertical shaft 1
passing to the top of the well, as shown. At Figure 6 is shown a side
view of a similar pump placed at the top of a well, and with the axis
horizontal, as in the pump first described. In these pumps the body of
thic pump has not only cast with it one of the suction passages but
also a portion of the second suction passage, and the suction passages 2
are led together and connected directly to the suction pipe or inlet. In
other respects the pumps are constructed in the manner herein-before
described.
We would remark that we are aware that it has before been proposed
to cast one of the suction passages with the body of the pump and tho ?
other with the end cover, but in these cases the manner in which the
cover has been formed and connected to the body of the pump has
involved a considerable amount of labor and fitting. We are also aware
that pumps have been constructed in such manner that the disc can be
removed without interfering with the suction or delivery pipes, but by å
our method of connecting the side cover by flanges to the body of the
pump exterior of the volute and in a plane at right angles with the
axis of the disc we obtain the several advantages at a much smaller cost
hon hontofor

page_text: The construction of centrifugal pumps, substantially as hercin-before
described, the body of the pump with the volute and one suction passage
being made in one casting, whilst the side cover and the other suction
passage is formed in a second casting, which is secured to the first
casting by flanges in one plane at right angles to the axis of the
revolving disc and exterior or clear of the side of the volute.
We also claim the construction of centrifugal pumps, substantially as
herein-before described and shown in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Emmett Lawrence and
Edmund Vernon Porter, have hereunto set our hand and scal,
this Twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand cight hundred and seventy-five.