A Combination Hop-washing Machine and Fire Engine.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 24th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combination Hop-washing Machine and Fire Engine.
I WILLIAM LAMBERT of Horsmonden in the County of Kent Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This Invention relates to a combination machine which may be used either as a hop
washing machine or as a fire engine.
Such combination machine consists of a tank mounted on a pair of travelling wheels
and fitted internally with two delivery pumps which communicate with a reservoir
fitted with an air chamber and with a suitable valve and union to which latter nozzles
or hose are attached so that the liquid contained in the tank can be distributed either
in one or more jets or in the form of spray as may be desired-Such delivery nozzles
or hose is or are made adjustable so that the liquid can be delivered at any required
height or angle-Bolted to the front of the tank are two socket irons which serve to
carry a pair of shafts to allow of the machine being drawn by horse power while fixed
to the back of the tank are two guide bars furnished with suitable handles by means
whereof the attendant controls the line of travel of the machine when in motion and
also the discharge of the liquid rendering the same either intermittent or continuous
as may be desired-The pumps are operated by toothed gearing which is actuated by
the motion of the travelling wheels and the speed of such pumps is varied and regulated
according to the quantity of liquid required to be delivered by means of differential
gearing mounted on the crank shaft or in any other convenient position thus avoiding
the unnecessary waste of the liquid in the tank and also the loss of power in pumping-
The action of the delivery valve is regulated and controlled by a handle fitted with a
connecting rod by means whereof the valve is opened and closed as required. When
such delivery valve is open the liquid in the reservoir is ejected either in a jet or jets
or in spray by the pressure of the air in the air chamber.
A pressure gauge is fitted to the machine in any convenient position to indicate the
pressure of the liquid in the reservoir-A safety valve is also fitted thereto so that
when the liquid overflows it is led back into the tank thus preventing waste.
When the machine is to be used as a fire engine the toothed gearing is thrown out
of gear by a fork or other suitable device and two band wheels are mounted on the
crank shaft-These wheels are worked by two or more men thus operating the pumps
and delivering the water through the valve and hose on to the fire.
ELT & Co.,
33, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combination Hop-washing Machine and Fire Engine.
I WILLIAM LAMBERT of Horsmonden in the County of Kent Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to a combination machine which may be used either as a hop
washing machine or as a fire engine.
It is well known that the hop plant is tender and of rapid growth and of large
foliage when in full vigour previous to its fruiting, and that the plants are evenly
distributed in rows, and are placed generally about 6 feet apart on the surface of the
ground. The space which the plants occupy are called hills and at the spring of the
year when the plant begins to grow provision is made by placing sticks or poles into
ונס...”

page_text: the ground to receive the plant which makes its way up the poles in a twirling manner
to the height of from 10 to 16 feet. The foliage projects from the stem of the plant
or what is usually called the bines and towards the maturity of the plant the bines
shoot forth young branches and the foliage is then larger and occupies more space.
The foliage is frequently attacked by the aphis blight and my improved machine
may be used either for destroying the insect by washing the plants with a liquid solution
which is ejected under the foliage where the blight generally attacks it or for
extinguishing fire.
Such combination machine consists of a tank mounted on a pair of travelling wheels
and fitted internally with two delivery pumps which communicate with a reservoir
fitted with an air chamber and with a suitable valve and union to which latter suitable
hose with nozzles or jets are attached so that the liquid contained in the tank can be
distributed either in one or more jets or in the form of spray as may be desired-Such
delivery apparatus is made adjustable so that the liquid can be delivered at any
required height and angle-Bolted to the front of the tank are two socket irons which
serve to carry a pair of shafts to allow of the machine being drawn by horse power,
while fixed to the back of the tank are two guide bars furnished with suitable handles
by means whereof the attendant controls the line of travel of the machine when in
motion and also the discharge of the liquid rendering the same either intermittent or
continuous as may be desired. The pumps are operated by toothed gearing which is
actuated by the notion of the travelling wheels and the speed of such pumps is varied and
regulated according to the quantity of liquid required to be delivered by means of change
wheels mounted on the crank and intermediate shafts thus avoiding the unnecessary
waste of the liquid in the tank and also the loss of power in pumping. The action of
the delivery valve is regulated and controlled by a handle fitted with a connecting
rod by means whereof the valve is opened and closed as required. When such delivery
valve is open the liquid in the reservoir is ejected either in a jet or jets or in spray by the
pressure of the air in the air chamber. A pressure valve is fitted to the machine so
that when the liquid overflows it is led back into the tank thus preventing waste.
When the machine is to be used as a fire engine the toothed gearing thrown out of
gear by a fork or other suitable device and two hand wheels are mounted on the
crank shaft. These wheels when worked operate the pumps and deliver the water
through the valve and hose on to the fire.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. A shews a plan view of the machine.
Fig. B a side elevation shewing the change wheels.
Fig. Ca back elevation.
Fig. Da longitudinal vertical section through the line Z Z Fig. A.
Fig. E a front elevation-and
Fig. F a side elevation shewing the driving gear.
The various parts of the machine are indicated by reference numbers 1 to 43
inclusive and similar numbers indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
1 is the tank 4 the travelling wheels of the machine-2 the horse shafting-28 pins
for fixing such shafting to socket irons-29 socket irons for connecting such shafting
to tank-11 is the driving shaft or axle which is driven by the travelling wheels 4-
40 is a spur wheel fixed on such driving shaft or axle 11-13 is an intermediate spur
wheel gearing with and driven by the spur wheel 40 and carried on an intermediate
shaft 12 that passes through a sleeve which is fitted in the tank-Nos. 13-14
Figs. B. C. the toothed gearing by which crank shaft 18 is driven Nos. 9, 15, 19
Fig. D the pumps, connecting rods and crank shaft bearings-Nos. 8, 42-Fig. A
pipes leading from pumps 9 to reservoir 41-No. 7 air vessel over such reservoir-
No. 6 Figs. A. D is an equilibrium valve which is lifted at the will of the operator
by pressing the handle and rod 25 Fig. B thus operating the lever 5 Fig. B and
connecting rod 13 Fig. D-16 Fig. D tube leading from reservoir 41 to pressure
valve 17 Fig. D from whence the liquid passes back into the tank through the

page_text: in a bend Owing to the concussion of the pressure and the vibration of the machine
the jets 23 are caused to oscillate at right angles with the draught of the machine thus
enabling the spray to be more fully distributed under the foliage. These bends also
allow such jets to come in closer contact with the foliage at the bottom and should
they strike against the poles, as frequently happens, they give way and immediately
after resume their original position-23 Fig. E the jets above mentioned which give
off the liquor in the form of spray and which are made in suitable sizes-24 Fig. E
scrow eyes which serve to regulate the position of the jets-27 iron framing which
carries the delivery apparatus-3 Figs. A. B. C. D. F. handles to guide machine.
The pumps are thrown out of gear by a lever and clutch (not shewn in the drawings)
which are connected to the shaft 12 and wheel 13 and which operate on such shaft to
arrest its motion and so throw the pumps out of gear-31 Figs. C. D scrapers to keep
travelling wheels clear of dirt and to keep the covering of the gearing from clogging
up-35 Fig. F hopper into which the liquor is poured and which is fitted with any
suitable straining apparatus-38, 39 Fig. D lubricating tubes for carrying oil to the
bearings.
It will be seen from the foregoing description of the mechanism that as soon as the
machine is propelled by the horse gear the liquid enters the pumps at 10 and is carried
into the reservoir and ascends the air chamber until it is relieved by the pressure valve
or by the equilibrium valve.
As the aphis blight at times attacks the plants at an early stage the lower jets only
require to be used when this is the case and consequently a smaller supply of liquid is
required. To meet this exigency I have adopted the method of change wheels 1.4
Figs. G which can be reversed from the intermediate shaft to the crank and vice versa
at will whereby the draught of the machine is reduced compatibly with the quantity
of liquor required. By this means from four change wheels four different speeds may
be obtained.
Assume for instance that the machine starts off at an early period of the season
with first second or third speed and the liquor is discharged up the poles and then
shut off by the equilibrium valve; the liquor is held at the point of the jets 23 by the
check valves 21 which thus enables each jet to give a simultaneous discharge. The
machine can give a continuous spray by taking out the equilibrium valve or by
attaching the handles 25 to the handles 3 by a ferrule. When the machine is not
used for syringing hops, it can be converted into a fire engine in the course of two
or three minutes by unscrewing the cap 32, Fig. C and attaching a suitable union and
suction hose and by unscrewing the cap 33 Figs. B D F and attaching a delivery hose
and by placing one or two hand wheels 34 Figs. B, C, D, F on the crank shaft, it
works clear from all other mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
The improved combination hop washing machine and fire engine constructed
arranged and fitted all substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and shewn.
Dated this 26th day of March 1890
ELT & Co.,
33, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, London, Agents for the Applicant.