IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Newcome Davis, of the City of Beloit, State of
Wisconsin, United States of America, but at present of 14, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS."
Sealed the 4th April 1879, and dated the 14th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Newcomo Davis at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th January 1879.
FRANCIS NEWCOME DAVIS, of the City of Beloit, State of Wisconsin, United
States of America, but at present of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS."
"
This Invention relates to improvements in steam vacuum pumps so arranged as
to work automatically with a large saving in steam over the ordinary vacuum
pumps now in use. This economy in steam, and consequently in fuel, is attained
not only by lining the cylinders with wood to prevent quick condensation, but also
by the use at a point intermediary to the slide valve and cylinder of a second or
auxiliary valve, which by the positive motion imparted to it automatically cuts off
the steam from the cylinder as soon as the water has been forced past the wing or
current plate as hereafter described, and thus prevents the great waste usually
existing in consequence of the steam following the water through the exit
valve.
To better and more perfectly explain my Invention and the manner in which the
sume may be carried into effect, I refer to the annexed Drawings in which the
same letters of reference refer to corresponding portions of the Invention throughout
Figs. I., II., III., IV., V., & VI.
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of a double cylinder pump, partially in section;
Fig. 2 represents a side elevation, also partially in section; Fig. 3 represents an
enlarged view of portions of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 represents an enlarged view of the
internal auxiliary valve; Fig. 5, an end view of Fig. 4, showing steam ports; Fig. 6
represents the hollow steam cylinder cap in which Fig. 5 works; Fig. 7 represents
a front elevation, partially in section, of my pump when only one cylinder is
employed.
A is the eduction pipe; B, the steam pipe from the boiler; C, C', the steam
passages leading to the auxiliary valve g, g; D is a slido valvo opening and

page_text: closing the steam ports in passages C, C', and operated by the pressure of
the atmosphere upon the external faces of the pistons F, F, to which it is
connected by a centrally located shaft as shown; G, G', are air cocks which may
be used to permit the entrance to the cylinders of a small quantity of air to form a
cushion for the incoming water, and also to prevent the too close contact of the
steam with the water, thus preventing the rapid condensation and consequent loss
of steam; H, H', are check valves opening upward which permits not only the air
from cocks G, G₁, but also that contained in the cylinders behind the pistons F, F',
to pass through the passages I, I', to cylinders V, V; K, K¹, are discs attached
to the same shaft which carries the auxilary valves g, g; to these discs are attached
pivotted pawls L, L', and stationary arms f. f', working in slots Z, Z', for the
purposes hereinafter described; M, M³, are moveable rods with pivots or ball sockets
at Q, Q, and which terminate at shafts R, R', to which they are securely attached.
Firmly secured to these shafts (R, R',) and having consequently the same relative
motion are wings or current plates the use whereof being hereafter set forth; N, N',
are steam passages from the auxiliary valve to the injectors b, b; P being a jet
nozzle at the end of the water passage from the said injector; O' represents a
deflector consisting of a suitably supported plate for the purpose of spreading the
steam over the entire upper portion of the cylinder instead of permitting it to rush
direct from the passage I upon the contained air and water in the form of a "jet."
This distribution of steam near its entrance into the cylinder I consider desirable
upon economical grounds; S, S¹, are the eduction, and T, T', the induction valves, all
of which act in the usual manner.
"
These valves are so arranged that on removing the front plate they may be
readily slid in or out from the grooves in the castings in which their terminals rest;
U represents the induction pipe; W represents a finger" attached to the moveable
rod M which in its downward motion only catches on the pawl L', and thus turns
the auxiliary valves g, g, as hereinafter more fully set forth; a represents the air
chamber through a portion of which the eduction pipe A passes. Confining ourselves
for the present to Fig. 2 we find that a' is the steam pipe leading from the steam
passage through cylinder cap (Fig. 6) to the injector b', which may or may not
contain a deflector for the purpose before described; c¹ is a valve opening upwards;
dis the injector's induction pipe which takes its water from the volume which is
being forced out. I consider it essential for the working of the injector that this in-
duction passage should extend nearly to the bottom of the outflow chamber in order
that the air (of which there is always more or less being pumped out with the
water, and which naturally travels along the surface thereof) may be excluded from
entering the injector. Here let me state that I do not confine myself to the
particular position of d', as shown in Fig. 2, it being evident that such pipe or
passage may terminate at any convenient point above the valves on induction pipe U,
always bearing in mind that the location must be such as to excludo air from
passing to the injector. e¹ is the injector's eduction pipe ending in a jet nozzle P¹.
In Figs. 5 & 6, h, h, represent the steam ports to cylinders, and “¿,” the steam
port to injector. I will now proceed to describe the operation of the pump, it
being understood that both cylinders with their valves, pipes, and passages are
alike.
"
"
We suppose cylinder V has been already filled with water and has just
commenced to discharge the same, the steam ports C and h, h, are open and the
steam is flowing freely through passage I and being distributed by the deflector O
it has given motion to the water in the form of an "outward flow or current,
and this motion or "outward flow" has carried down the wing or current plato
attached to the shaft R, and through the pivot or ball socket joint Q has forced the
rod M upwards until the finger W attached thereto has passed the pawl L on the
disc K, this pawl being pivotted simply turns slightly upward, permitting the
finger W to pass it, and then by its own weight falls to its original position. As
the cylinder becomes nearly empty the air follows upon the upper surface of the
water and travels upward along the bottom of the valve S, there being no longer

page_text: "
an "outward flow or current of water, and the wing or current plate not filling
the entire passage the air and steam immediately equalize the pressure upon all
sides of said wing or plate; when there being no pressure to keep it down longer
the rod M from its inherent weight falls to its original position (as shown upon
cylinder V¹), the "finger" W catches on pawl Land carries it down, giving the disc K
approximately an eighth of a revolution before it " clears or passes it.
"
The turning of said disc and its shaft turns the auxiliary valve g, g, closing the
ports h, h, thus completely cutting off the steam from the cylinder V the instant
the water has been entirely discharged, also opening port "i" permitting the steam
to flow through pipe "a" to the injector "b," said injector having filled itself
through passage "d" and valve c during the discharge of water from the main
cylinder, the steam entering through "a" acts upon the water, forcing it out
through jet or spray nozzle P. The steam remaining in cylinder V is immediately
condensed, forming a vacuum therein, when the normal pressure of the atmosphero
forces the piston F to the inner extremity of its cylinder, the air rushing out from
behind the piston and passing through valve H and passage I to the cylinder V.
The water also rushes in to the cylinder through pipe U and valve T by the
external atmospheric pressure. The motion of the piston F closing port C by slide
valve D is imparted through its shaft to the connected rods and shaft E, E', and Y,
the extremity of slot Z in shaft Y pushing the stationary arm f back, said slot
having sufficient play to permit the valvo D to close port C before it acts on tho
said stationary arin f, and consequently turns disc K and opens valve g, g, through
ports h, h, ready for the next stroke when the port C shall open and admit the
steam, at the same time closing port "i" to the injector. During the time valve D
is in the position as shown in Fig. I. the cylinder V₁ has filled with water.
the piston F is forced to the internal extremity of its cylinder, as before set forth,
the valve D has opened port C' and the steam rushes in and the operation is carried
out in the manner as described in cylinder V. It is essential that the shafts R, R',
should be so placed that the outflowing current will keep the wings or current
plates down until the air in the cylinders has passed off through the eduction pipo
with the water. If such be not the case the air will gradually accumulate in the
cylinder to the exclusion of the water, when, as no vacuum could be formed, the
pump would cease to work.
As
The sudden checking of the inrushing volume of water when cylinder V' is filled
reacts upon the under side of valve T and would, were it not for the partition
plate "m" on the casting, disturb the position of the wing or current plate on
shaft R, and through the rod M might turn the auxiliary valve before the water
was completely discharged from cylinder V. For the sake of economy in steam I
arrange the valve D so that it will close port C before the ports h, h, are opened,
as herein before described.
It is also essential for economical working that the ports h, h, should be com-
pletely closed before port "i" commences to open.
Although I have shown and described valve D as being operated by the pressure
of the atmosphere on pistons F, F', I do not confine myself to this particular
arrangement as it is evident that said valve may be operated by steam in tho
manner usually employed for cut off valves.
When only moderate volumes of water are required to be pumped my herein
before described Invention may be modified by dispensing with one cylinder and
the atmospheric or steam operated valve and by placing a second wing or current
plate in the induction chamber. Referring now to Fig. 7, A represents the hollow
steam cap; B, the valve; C, C¹, the pivotted pawls; D, D', the moveable rods
fitted with fingers as before described; E, the wing or current plate situated in the
induction passage; F, the induction pipe fitted with the ordinary valve; G, the
injector; H, the valve in the eduction pipe; I, the wing or current plate in the
eduction passage; M, the eduction pipe. The operation of the single cylinder
pump being virtually the same as that of the double, say, vacuum has been formed
in the cylinder and the water rushes in carrying up the wing or current plate Ę

page_text: with its attached rod D, the finger thereon passing the pawl c without moving the
valve as before set forth.
When the cylinder is full and there is no longer a current of water rushing in
the wing or current plate E and the rod D fall from their own inherent weight, and
the finger attached to rod D catches on the pawl C, and thus turns the valve B,
permitting the steam to enter the cylinder, at the same time closing the steam port
to the injector. The pressure of the steam forces the water out through eduction
valve H, the current at the same time carries wing or current plate I down, raising
rod D', the finger upon which passes pawl C³, as before described.
The water having passed wing or current plate I it instantly rises, allowing rod D¹
to full, the finger upon which catches pawl C', cutting off steam from the main
cylinder and opening the steam port to the injector when the entire operation is
repeated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Newcome Davis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
July 1879.
FRANCIS NEWCOME DAVIS, of the City of Beloit, State of Wisconsin, United
States of America, but at present of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS."
"
This Invention relates to improvements in steam vacuum pumps, so arranged as
to work automatically with a large saving in steam over the ordinary vacuum
pumps now in use. This economy in steam, and consequently in fuel, is attained
not only by lining the cylinders with wood to prevent quick condensation, but also
by the use at a point intermediary to the slide valve and cylinder of a second or
auxiliary valve, which by the positive motion imparted to it automatically cuts off
the steam from the cylinder as soon as the water has been forced past the wing or
current plate as hereafter described, and thus prevents the great waste usually
existing in consequence of the steam following the water through the exit valve.
To better and more perfectly explain my Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be carried into effect, I refer to the annexed Drawings, in which the
same letters of reference refer to corresponding portions of the Invention throughout
Figs. I., II., III., IV., V., and VI.
Fig. I. represents a front elevation of a double cylinder pump partially in
section.
Fig. II. represents a side elevation, also partially in section; Fig. III. represents
an enlarged view of portions of Fig. I.; Figure IV. represents an enlarged view of
the internal auxiliary valve; Fig. V., an end view of Fig. IV. showing steam ports;
Fig. VI. represents the hollow steam cylinder cap in which Fig. V. works; Fig. VII.
represents a front elevation, partially in section, of my pump when only one cylinder
is employed. A is the eduction pipe; B, the steam pipe from the boiler; C, C', the
stean passages leading to the auxiliary valve g, g; D is a slide valve opening and
closing the steam ports in passages C, C, and operated by the pressure of the
atmosphere upon the external faces of the pistons F, F, to which it is connected by
a centrally located shaft as shown; G, G₁, are air cocks which may be used to permit
the entrance to the cylinders of a small quantity of air to form a cushion for the
incoming water and also to prevent the too close contact of the steam with the
water, thus preventing the rapid condensation and consequent loss of steam; H, H¹,
are check valves opening upward, which permits not only the air from cocks G, G',
but also that contained in the cylinders behind the pistons F, F1, to pass through
the passages I, I, to cylinders V, V'; K, K', are discs attached to the same shaft
which carries the auxiliary valves g, g. To these discs are attached pivotted
pawls L, L, and stationary f,f', arms working in slots Z, Z1, for the purposes
hereinafter described. M, M¹, are moveable rods with pivots or ball sockets at Q, Q',
and which terminate at shafts R, R', to which they are securely attached. Firmly
secured to these shafts R, R', and having consequently the same relative motion, are
wings" or current plates, the use whereof being hereafter set forth. N, N¹, are
steam passages from the auxiliary valve to the jinjectors b, b', P being a jet nozzle
at the end of the water passage from the said injector. O¹ represents a deflector
consisting of a suitably supported plate for the purpose of spreading the steam over
the entire upper portion of the cylinder instead of permitting it to rush direct
from the passage I¹ upon the contained air and water in the form of "jet." This
distribution of steam near its entrance into the cylinder I consider desirable upon
economical grounds. S, S¹, are the eduction, and T, T¹, the induction valves, all of
which act in the usual manner.
"
These valves are so arranged that on removing the front plate they may be
readily slid in or out from the grooves in the castings in which their terminals rest.
U represents the induction pipe; W' represents a "finger" attached to the movable

page_text: rod M' which in its downward motion only catches on the pawl L, and thus turns
the auxiliary valves g, g, as hereinafter more fully set forth; X represents the air
chamber through a portion of which the eduction pipe A passes. Contining
ourselves for the present to Fig. 2 we find that a¹ is the steam pipe leading from tho
steam passage through cylinder cap Fig. 6 to the injector b', which may or may not
contain a deflector for the purpose before described; c¹ is a valve opening upwards;
d' is the injector's induction pipe which takes its water from the volume which is
being forced out. I consider it essential for the working of the injector that this
induction passage should extend nearly to the bottom of the out flow chamber in
order that the air (of which there is always more or less being pumped out with the
water, and which naturally travels along the surfaco thereof) may be excluded from
entering the injector. Hero let me state that I do not confine myself to the
particular position of d' as shown in Fig. 2, it being evident that that such pipe or
passage may terminate at any convenient point above the valves on induction
pipe U always bearing in mind that the location must be such as to excludo air from
passing to the injector. e' is the injector's eduction pipe ending in jet nozzle P'.
In Figs. 5 and 6, h, h, represents the steam ports to cylinders; and i, the steam
port to injector. I will now proceed to describe the operation of the pump. it being
understood that both cylinders with their valves, pipes, and passages are alike.
"
We suppose cylinder V has been already filled with water, and has just commenced
to discharge the same; the steam ports C and h, h, are open and the steam is flowing
freely through passage I and being distributed by the deflector O. It has given
motion to the water in the form of an "outward flow" or current, and this motion
or outward flow has carried down the wing or current plate attached to the shaft R
and through the pivot or ball socket joint Q has forced the rod M upwards until the
finger" W attached thereto has passed the pawl L on the disc K, this pawl being
pivotted simply turns slightly upward permitting the finger W to pass it, and then
by its own weight falls to its original position. As the cylinder becomes nearly
empty the air follows upon the upper surface of the water and travels upward along
the bottom of the valve S, there being no longer an outward flow or current of
water, and the wing or current plato not filling the entire passage, the air and steam
immediately equalizo the pressure upon all sides of said wing or plate, when
there being no pressure to keep it down longer, the rod M from its inherent weight
falls to its original position (as show upon cylinder V¹), the "finger" W catches on
pawl L and carries it down, giving the disc K approximately an eighth of a
revolution before it "clears" or passes it.
The turning of said disc and its shaft turns the auxiliary valve g, g, closing the
ports h, h, thus completely cutting off the steam from the cylinder V the instant the
water has been entirely discharged, and also opening port i, permitting the steam to
flow through pipe a to the injector b, said injector having filled itself through
passage and valve c during the discharge of water from the main cylinder; the
steam entering through a acts upon the water, forcing it out through jet or spray
nozzle P. The steam remaining in cylinder V is immediately condensed, forming a
vacuum therein, when the normal pressure of the atmosphere forces the piston F to
the inner extremity of its cylinder, the air rushing out from behind the piston
and passing through valve H and passage I to the cylinder V. The water
also rushes in to the cylinder through pipe U and valvo T by the external atmo-
spheric pressure. The motion of the piston F closing port C by slide valve D is
imparted through its shaft to the connecting rods and shaft E, E', and Y, the
extremity of slot Z in shaft Y pushing the stationary arm f back, said slot having
sufficient play to permit the valve D to closo port C before it acts on the said
stationary arm f, and consequently turns disc K and opens valve g, g, through ports
h, h, ready for the next stroke when the port C shall open and admit the steam, at
the same time closing port i to the injector. During the time valve D is in the
position as shown in Fig. I. the cylinder V' has filled with water. As the piston F
is forced to the internal extremity of its cylinder, as before set forth, the valve D has
opened port C¹, and the steam rushes in, and the operation is carried out in the

page_text: manner as described in cylinder V. It is essential that the shafts R, R', should be so
placed so that the outflowing current will keep the wings or current plates down
until the air in the cylinders has passed off through the eduction pipe with the
water. If such be not the case the air will gradually accumulate in the cylinder to
the exclusion of the water, when, as no vacuum could be formed, the pump would
cease to work.
The sudden checking of the inrushing volume of water when cylinder V¹ is filled
re-acts upon the under side of valve T, and would, were it not for the partition plate m
on the casting, disturb the position of the wing or current plate on shaft R, and
through the rod M might turn the auxiliary valve before the water was completely
discharged from cylinder V.
For the sake of economy in steam I arrange the valve D so that it will close
port C before the ports h, h, are opened, as herein before described. It is also
essential for economical working that the ports h, h, should be completely closed
before port i commences to open.
Although I have shown and described valve D as being operated by the pressure
of the atmosphere on pistons F, F¹, I do not confine myself to this particular
arrangement, as it is evident that said valve may be operated by steam in the
manner usually employed for cut off valves.
When only moderate volumes of water are required to be pumped my hereinbefore
described Invention may be modified by dispensing with one cylinder and the atino-
spheric or steain operated valve, and by placing a second wing or current plate in
the induction chamber.
Referring now to Fig. 7, A represents the hollow steam cap; B, the valve; C, C¹,
the pivotted pawls; D, D¹, the movable rods fitted with fingers ns before described;
E, the wing or current plate situated in the induction passage; F, the
induction pipe fitted with the ordinary valve; G, the injector; H, the valve in the
eduction pipe; I, the wings or current plate in the eduction passago; M, the eduction
pipe, the operation of the single cylinder pump being virtually the same as that of
the double. Say vacuum has been formed in the cylinder and the water rushes in,
carrying up the wing or current plate E with its attached rod D, the finger thereon
passing the pawl c without moving the valve, as before set forth. When the
cylinder is full, and there is no longer a current of water rushing in, the wing or
current plate E and the rod D fall from their own inherent weight, and the finger
attached to rod D catches on the pawl c, and thus turns the valve B, permitting
the steam to enter the cylinder, at the same time closing the steam port to the
injector.
The pressure of the steam forces the water out through eduction valve I, the
current at the same time carries wing or current plate I down, raising rod D¹, the
finger upon which passes pawl cl as before described. The water having passed
wing or current plate I, it instantly rises, allowing rod D' to fall, the finger upon
which catches pawl c¹, cutting off steam from the main cylinder and opening steam
port to the injector, when the entire operation is repeated.
Having thus explained the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which it
may be practically operated, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is
ns shown in Figs. I., II., III., IV., V., and VI.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump an auxiliary valve which shall cut off the
steam from before condensation takes place in the cylinder.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump an auxiliary valve, which shall not only
open and close the steam port or ports to the main cylinder, but also open and close
the steam passage to the injector.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump an injector operated by direct application
of steam to water in combination with a valve that cuts off the steam from tho
main cylinder before admitting it to the injector.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump an injector so arranged that when the
steam is on either one or more of the main cylinders the steam is entirely cut off
from the injector or injectors.

page_text: I
In an automatic-steam vacuum pump an injector operated by steam, with a
passage for taking water from discharge chamber at a point either before or after
the water has passed the eduction valve, such passage or passages so located as never
to be uncovered to the water, for the purposes set forth.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump an injector operated by steam in combi-
nation with a main steam supply valve moved by steam or atmospheric pressure
and wings or current plates.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump a main steam supply valve operated by
steam or atmospheric pressure in combination with wings or current plates.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump a main steam supply valve operated by
steam or atmospheric pressure in combination with an auxiliary valve.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump a piston or pistons operated by pressure of
steam, or the atmosphere so connected with main steam supply valve as to cut off
steam from port leading to auxiliary valve before the ports in said auxiliary valve
are opened to the cylinder.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump a piston or pistons operated by pressure of
atmosphere so arranged as to operate auxiliary valve or valves in combination with
the cylinder or cylinders.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump a wing or current plato so located as to
permit the air to escape with the water before rising.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump, the base or bottom having partition plates
m, m, induction and eduction valves arranged to slide out in combination with the
wings or current plates and cylinders, and in Fig. 7.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump wings or current plates located in induction
and eduction passages, so arranged that the wing in the induction passage opens the
steam valve port to the cylinder, while the wing in the eduction passage closes it,
in combination with the cylinder.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump wings or current plates located in induction
and eduction passages so arranged that the wing in the eduction pipe opens the
steam valve port to injector, while the wing in the induction passage closes it, in
combination with the cylinder.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump a wing or current plate located in induction
passage in combination with the cylinder and induction valve.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump induction and eduction wings in combination
with injector.
In an automatic steam vacuum pump an induction wing in combination with
injector.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Newcome Davis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.