IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wyman Blake, of Jersey, in the State of
New Jersey, United States of America, now of George Street,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS."-A communication from abroad
by Charles Henry Hall, of New York City, in the State of New
York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wyman Blake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd June 1875.
.
I, JOHN WYMAN BLAKE, of Jersey, in the State of New Jersey, United
5 States of America, now of George Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS," a communication, to be as follows:-
My said Invention relates to improvements in the steam pumps or

page_text: the surface of the metal of the valve. This wood packing or lining when
properly fitted will last for a long time, and when worn may be readily
removed and replaced by a new piece.
At the rear of each valve the valve chamber has an opening closed by.
a tightly fitting cover, whereon I form curved or hook shaped pieces,
which when the cover is in place project over the journals or pivots of
the valve, and keep the same properly in place in its bearing, and also
serve to prevent any displacement of the bearing; and by removing the
said cover free access can be had to the valve and parts connected
therewith.
To restrict the movement of the valve on its joint or fulcrum I form
on the said cover an arm or bracket, which is arranged in the proper
position to meet a small projection on the back of the valve, and the said
bracket and projection are fitted with wood to prevent noise and the
wearing of these parts by concussion.
The aforesaid flanged piece forms the entrance aperture for the water,
and the means for connecting the suction pipe with the valve chamber.
Above each valve there is a passage leading to the delivery valve
chamber. These delivery valves are constructed and operate in the
same manner as the suction valves above described, but I prefer that
they should be arranged back to back, so that each valve when closed
forms a stop for the other valve as the latter opens.
The aforesaid two chambers of the apparatus are constructed some-
what of the form described in the said former Specification, that is to
say, they are separate from each other, but converge at the top, their
upper portions being of diminished size. These upper portions enclose
a central vacuum chamber, which is in communication with the water
supply or suction pipe, and is provided with a small air inlet valve.
The apex or point of junction of the two chambers is occupied by a
valve which governs the entrance of the steam, as described in the afore-
said Specification, but I now use a single ball or spherical valve, and
form a seat for the same in such a position that the said valve has space
to roll from side to side, and thereby alternately close the entrance to
each chamber. The upper part of the pump containing this ball and its

page_text: seat is made detachable, so that it can be readily removed and replaced
without injuring or disturbing the body of the pump.
The aperture through which the steam enters is immediately above
this valve, and when the apparatus is working steam is admitted con-
tinuously through the same, its direction into one or the other of the
said chambers being due to the action of the said valve. The upper or
small part of each of the said two chambers is provided with a valve
which at each pulsation of the said chamber admits a small quantity of
air above the water therein, which air forms a cushion to the water,
preventing its rising too high or too violently in the chamber.
By the above description it will be seen that no part of the body of
the pump is subject to wear, and that if any of the valves or their
bearing parts connected therewith should be worn or injured they may
be readily and conveniently removed and replaced.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Wyman Blake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd December 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WYMAN BLAKE, of Jersey, in the State of New Jersey, United States of
America, now of George Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of June, 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 me, the said John Wyman Blake, Her special
licence that I, the said John Wyman Blake, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Wyman
Blake, my 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

page_text: section at a right angle to Figure 1 on the inc x, x. LIKC Ietters
indicate the same parts in both Figures.
a, b, are the two chambers of the pump; c is the inlet aperture; and
d, the outlet aperture; e, e, are the inlet or suction valves; and f, f, the
delivery valves.
A very important feature of the said Invention is the novel arrange-
ment and construction of the suction and delivery valves of the said
pump or apparatus.
Instead of using ball suction and delivery valves, or any of the other
varieties of valves described in the said former Specification, I now use
hinged or jointed valves e, f, constructed and arranged as shown. The
said valves are flat discs or plates e¹, f¹, of cast iron or other suitable
metal formed or provided with journals, trunnions, or pivots e², f³,
which serve as the fulcrums whereon the valves open or close. These
journals or trunnions are fitted in bearing pieces g, which are detachable
from the pump, so that they may readily be removed when worn and
replaced by new bearings. These bearings are fitted in recesses in the
part a', which forms the lower part of the body of the pump; the valve
seats h, i, are also placed in this part of the pump.
To improve the working of these valves and increase their durability I
provide either the valve or the valve seat or both with a lining or
surface of wood or other suitable soft material, so that I prevent the
contact of metal with metal. For attaching this wood or other lining
or packing to the seat or valve I form therein a recess slightly dove-
tailed, in which the wood or other soft material is tightly fitted and
secured in such manner as to project above the surface of the metal of
the valve. This packing or lining when properly fitted will last for a
long time, and when worn may be readily removed and replaced by a
new piece.

page_text: shaped pieces, which when the cover is in place project over the ends
of the journals or pivots of the valve, and keep the same properly in
place in its bearing, and also serve to prevent any displacement of the
bearing; and by removing the said cover free access can be had to the
valve and parts connected therewith.
To restrict within proper limits the movement of the valve on its
joint or fulcrum I form on the said cover an arm or bracket m, which is
arranged in the proper position to meet a small projection or horn n on
the back of the valve, and I fit the said brackets and projections or one
of them with wood, as shewn at o, to prevent noise and the wearing of
these parts by concussion.
Above each valve e there is a passage p leading to the delivery valve
chamber. The delivery valves f are constructed and operate in the
same manner as the suction valves as above described, but I prefer that
they should be arranged back to back, as shewn in dotted lines in
Figure 1, so that cach valve f when closed forms a stop for the other
valve fas the latter opens.
It will be seen that the aforesaid two chambers of the apparatus
are constructed somewhat of the form described in the said former
Specification, that is to say, they are separate from each other, but
converge at the top, their upper portions being of diminished size.
These upper portions enclose a central vacuum chamber q, which is
in communication with the water supply or suction pipe, and is provided
with a small air inlet valve q¹.
The apex or point of junction of the two chambers is occupied by a
valve, which governs the entrance of the steam, as described in the
aforesaid Specification, but I now use a single ball or spherical valve r,
as shown, and form a seat for the same in such a position that the said
valve has space to roll from side to side, and thereby alternately closes
the entrance to each chamber. The upper part a* of the pump con-
taining this ball and its seat r¹ is made detachable, so that it can be
readily removed and replaced without injuring or disturbing the body
of the pump.
The aperture 8, through which the steam enters is immediately above
this valve, and when the apparatus is working steam is admitted con-

page_text: tinuously through the same, its direction in one or the other of the said
chambers being due to the action of the said valve. The upper or small
part of each of the said two chambers is provided with a valve t. The
valves and q at each pulsation of the apparatus admit a small quantity
of air above the water in the chamber a or b or q, which air forms a
cushion to the water, preventing its rising too high or too violently in the
said chamber.
By the above description it will be seen that no part of the body of
the pump is subject to wear, and that if any of the valves or their
bearings or parts connected therewith should be worn or injured they
may be readily and conveniently removed and replaced.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim as a part of a pump or apparatus
for raising or forcing water in which steam exerts its pressure upon the
water directly or without the intervention of a piston, diaphragm, or
other moving part, —
First. The suction and delivery valves and their seats constructed
and provided with wood or other lining in the peculiar manner shewn,
and so arranged that the said valves operate to admit and discharge the
water, as herein set forth.
Second. The loose or detachable bearing pieces for the valve journals
or trunnions fitted in the body of the pump, as herein set forth and for
the purpose specified.
Third. In combination with the said valves and detachable bearings or
bearing pieces the curved or other pieces for keeping the said valves and
bearings in place, as herein set forth.
Fourth. The detachable part at the top or apex of the pump, con-
taining the ball valve, and with the valve seat formed therein, so that
the said valve governs the admission of steam to both chambers of the
pump, as herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The pump or apparatus, with the chambers, the hinged suction
and delivery valves, and their seats and detachable bearings and devices
connected therewith, the ball valve fitted to its seat in the detachable

page_text: part at the top or apex of the pump, and the other portions of the said
pump or apparatus constructed and combined as shewn in the Drawing
and as herein set forth for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wyman Blake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
JOHN WYMAN BLAKE. (L.S.)