Improvements in and connected with the Valves of Pumps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 19th Jan., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by Charles Campbell WORTHINGTON, Mechanical
Engineer, of Irvington, in the State of New York, United States of America.]
Improvements in and connected with the Valves of Pumps.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of The Office for Patents 6 Bream's Buildings
Chancery Lane in the County of London Patent Agent 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 improvements in pumping engines, it being the object
of the invention to increase the speed at which such engines can be operated
successfully.
While certain features of the invention are of general application in pumping
engines the invention is of special application to that class of engines known as
direct acting pumping engines and more especially to duplex acting pumping
engines in which certain features of the invention co-operate with other features
of the construction to secure certain special results not attained in other pumps.
In direct acting engines as is well known the steam piston or pistons is or are
attached directly to the rod which carries the pump plunger without the inter-
vention of a crank and as a consequence the piston and plunger are free to move in
either direction according to the side of the piston upon which the pressure is
greater. As a result of this arrangement of the steam piston and pump plunger it
has been customary to provide the engines of this class with some means by which
the piston and plunger were arrested just at the end of the stroke in each direction
so as to be prevented from coming into more or less violent contact with the heads
of the cylinder to the damage of the engine. A variety of devices have been
proposed for this purpose but that most generally adopted in practice has consisted
of double steam ports located in the same cylinder or cylinders so that the exhaust
would be closed by the piston just hefore it reached the end of its stroke thus
causing the piston to cushion upon a small portion of the exhaust steam remaining
in the cylinder and be arrested gently.
This method has been found satisfactory at the speeds at which this form of
engine is usually run. Wherever this speed is increased however the momentum of
the moving parts becomes sufficient to compress the steam thus imprisoned between
the exhaust port and the cylinder head to a pressure which causes a rebound or
recoil of the moving parts of the engine. This recoil is due to this pressure in the
cushion acting upon the piston plus the pressure in the force main acting upon the
plunger. This pressure in the force main is communicated to the plunger through
the force valves which at that moment of the stroke have not had time to close.
The effect of this recoil is to permit the water in the force chamber to flow rapidly
through the force valves into the pump cylinder producing a current which slams
the force valves violently to their seats.
The violence of this slam increases as the
speed of the engine is increased and soon becomes an element of danger.
The object of the invention is to provide means whereby, when the engine.
arrives at the end of the stroke, this recoil is prevented and the plunger enabled to
remain without movement until it begins its return stroke. In the time elapsing
between the forward stroke and this return one the valves have sufficient time to
retract themselves noiselessly if this recoil does not take place.
To accomplish this a valve or valves are so located on the pump and so acted
upon by the action of the machine as to close the valve or valves positively and

page_text: cut off the pressure in the force main from the plunger of the pump exactly at the
end of the stroke and thus prevent it from driving the plunger back with the recoil
ahove described. The result above stated can be accomplished by a variety of
connections and by a valve or valves arranged in a variety of ways. Several
arrangements suitable for the purpose and each embodying the present invention
are shown in the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a duplex direct acting pumping engine embodying the
present invention in one of its forms.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3 of Fig. 2 looking toward the water
cylinders.
Figs. 4 to 10 are sectional views illustrating different forms of the invention which
will be hereinafter referred to.
Referring to said drawings it is to be understood that the pump or pumping
engine therein illustrated is, as to its general construction, of the ordinary duplex
form. It consists of two steam cylinders A and two water cylinders B. The
pistons a and the water plungers 6 for each side of the engine are connected to a
common rod C in the ordinary manner. It is of course to be understood that the
water cylinders may be provided with pistons instead of plungers, but plungers are
usually employed, and that term will be used herein, and it is to be understood that
in a broad sense it includes pistons as equivalent devices.
The steam cylinders are provided with the usual valve gear consisting of rock
shafts 2 levers 3 and connecting rods 4 by which the steam valve for each side of
the engine is operated from the piston rod of the other in the manner common in
duplex engines. The steam cylinders are provided with separate induction and
exhaust ports 5, 6, so that, as the pistons a near the end of their strokes in either
direction, they cover the exhaust ports 6 and confine a small amount of exhaust
steam in front of them in the ends of the cylinders, by which, they are cushioned
and arrested. Any other form of apparatus may however be used for this purpose.
The water cylinders are provided with the usual suction valves e and force valves d
there being however in the organization shown in Figs. 1 to 4 but two force valves
for each water cylinder one for each end of the plunger.
C
Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 the embodiment of the invention
therein shown will be described. The force valves d for each water cylinder are
located in the usual force chamber D and are arranged to rise and fall on spindles 7,
they being provided with springs 8, which tend to press the valves toward their
seats. The upper ends of the springs 8 enter sockets in vertically moving heads 9
which are recessed to receive the spindles 7 by which they are guided and are
connected to rods 10 which pass upward through the stuffing boxes in the top of
the force chamber. The two rods for each side of the engine are connected by
links 12 to the opposite ends of an oscillating lever 13, which is fulcrummed upon a
frame rising from the top of the force chamber and is connected by a rod 14 with
an arm 15 extending from the shalt 2. The links 12 might be connected directly
to the rocking levers 13 but as sometimes an obstruction might lodge under one of
the valves which would prevent it from being closed and cause breakage, if the
connection were direct, it is preferable to provide a yielding connection between
the valves and the levers 13 so that in case of an accident of the character just
stated there will be sufficient yield between the valve and its lever to prevent
damage. One suitable form of connection for this purpose is shown in which the
links 12 are connected to one arm of bell crank levers 16 which are fulcrummed upon
the levers 13. The opposite ends of the pair of levers 16 for each side of the engine
are connected by a stout spring 17, which normally holds the levers 16 in the
position shown in Fig. 1 the arms of the levers to which the spring is connected
being prevented from coming any nearer to each other by reason of stops 30
projecting from the levers 13 against which they abut. The strength of the
springs 17 is sufficient to maintain the levers 16 against their stops.
The operation of the mechanism which has been described is as follows:-It is

page_text: has
to be remarked that, as shown in the drawings, the engine is at rest and both sides
of the duplex engine are in a central position. This is not a position that the two
sides of the engine will assume at the same time when in actual operation but
been adopted for facility in illustration. In describing the operation it will be
assumed that the piston a, as shown in Fig. 2, is started from left to right. As the
piston moves to the right the water in front of the plunger b will be forced past the
valve of that end of the cylinder raising the valve against the tension of
the spring 8 in the usual manner and at the same time water will be drawn
in behind the plunger b, raising the suction valves at that end of the cylinder.
As the piston a and plunger & approach the end of their stroke, the piston a will
cover the exhaust port 6 and cushion itself upon the steam confined in the end of
the steam cylinder and the piston a and plunger b will be arrested.
It will readily be seen that if no special means is provided for closing the valves
except the springs the force valve d'will be open at the time the plunger is stopped,
so that the full pressure of the water in the force main and force chamber will be
permitted to react for a short period of time upon the plunger. If the speed of
the engine is such that the momentum of the moving parts compresses the steam
held between the piston and cylinder head sufficiently, the back pressure of the
steam cushion together with the pressure of the force main upon the plunger,.
causes a rebound or recoil of the piston and plunger, thus producing a rapid
current from the force main through the force valves into the water cylinder
which slams the force valves violently to their seats as above described. This
recoil of the plunger slams also the suction valves c which have not had time to
close. In the present organization however as the plunger proceeds to the right
as before described the lever 13 through the connections which have been
described is rocked so as to gradually force downward into the force chamber
the rod 10 and head 9 above the spring 8 of the valve, past which the water is
being forced and this continues, the spring being gradually compressed until just
as the plunger arrives at the end of its stroke and is arrested when the rod 10 and
head 9 arrive in position to force the valve d positively to its seat thereby closing
the valve without shock and cutting off the pressure which exists in the force main
and the force chamber from in front of the plunger so that no reaction and
consequently no recoil can take place thus permitting the suction valve to close
gently. Upon the return stroke the same operation takes place at the other end of
the water cylinder. If, by any accident an obstruction should lodge under the
valve d so as to prevent it from being forced to its seat, the spring 17 will as before
explained yield sufficiently to prevent damage.
The connections through which this valve or valves is or are operated may be
varied widely as to form, without departing from the invention, and the valve
selected for positively cutting off this pressure from in front of the plunger at the
proper time may be the force valve as ordinarily employed, or it may be a special
auxiliary valve located anywhere in the force chamber of the water cylinder or
in its force main between the water cylinder and the usual air chamber employed
upon the force main.
Several different forms of valves suitable for the purpose and connections for
operating them as illustrated respectively in Figs. 4 to 10 will now be briefly.
referred to.
as that
The organisation shewn in Figure 4 is substantially the same
already described, except that the heads 9 are made in two parts, 9 and 18, so as
to allow an amount of lost motion between the rod 10 and the spring of the valve.
The operation is exactly the same as before described.
In Figures 5 to 9 organisations are shewn in which an auxiliary valve is used for
cutting off the pressure from in front of the plunger at the end of the stroke. In the e
cases the force valves d remain the same as in the construction first described but.
the force chamber of each water cylinder is divided into two compartments 19, one
for each end of the plunger, and these compartiments communicate by ports 20
with the force main E. In the construction shewn in Fig. 5, the ports 20 for each,

page_text: side of the engine are controlled by a swinging valve 21, which is supported upon
a rock shaft 22 passing outward through the side of the main and is provided with
a rock arm 23, which is connected by a rod 24 with one of the levers 3. The
rod 24 is connected with the lever 3 by means of a stud which passes through a
slot in the rod so as to provide a certain amount of lost motion between the lever
and the rod, whereby the valve 21 is not moved to shut off the pressure from in
front of the plunger until just at the end of the stroke. The operation of this
organization is substantially the same as of those already described. As the
plunger moves from right to left for example, and arrives at the end of its stroke,
the valve 21 will be shifted to the position shewn in Figure 5 so as to close the
port 20 leading to that end of the cylinder & shut off the pressure in the main
from in front of the plunger, and upon the return stroke the operation will be
reversed.
The organisation shewn in Figure 6 is substantially the same as that shewn in
Figure 5 except that two valves are employed to control the ports 20, and these
valves are arranged upon a rod corresponding to the rod 24 which, however passes
into the force chamber. In this case the two valves 25 are spring seated, by a
spring formed of a block of rubber or other suitable material 26 interposed between
them.
The organisation shewn in Fig. 7 is exactly the same as that shewn in Figure 6
except that the rod 24 is provided with two collars 27, and independent springs 26
for the two valves 25 are substituted for the rubber block.
In the organisation shewn in Figure 8 the two ports 20 are controlled by a slide
valve 28, which is attached to the rod 24 and is operated by the rod, the same
as in the previous organisations, to close the port leading to the water cylinder
in front of the plunger and to open the other port, as the plunger arrives at the
end of its stroke.
The organisation shown in Figure is the same as that shewn in Figure 8,
except that a piston valve 29 is employed instead of a slide valve to control the
1wo ports 20. The operation of the piston valve 29 will readily be understood by
reference to the drawings.
While it is more desirable for simplicity of construction to place the auxilliary
valves shutting off the reaction of the water column upon the plunger beyond the
force valves, that is, between the force valves and air chamber, as shewn in
Figures 5 to 9, they may be located between the plunger and the force valves
without interfering with their operation as already described. This arrangement
is shewn in Figure 10 in which the construction and operation are the same as in
Figure 8, except that the sliding valve is placed inside the force valves, the ports 20
opening into the water cylinder, and two valves are required as the rod 24 passes
through the partition separating the force chambers.
By the use of an auxiliary valve placed between the plunger of the direct acting
pump and the air chamber, either between the plunger and the force valve or
between the force valves and air chamber, I do not in any respect alter the
functions of the force valves. In case the auxiliary valve becomes obstructed at
any time and held from its seat by some foreign matter passing through the pump,
the force valves are still free to act and prevent the pressure of the main from
entering the water cylinder during the suction stroke which would place both sides
of the plunger in equilibrium to the great danger and propable breaking of the
engine. Arranged as here shewn, the only result would be a noisy action of the
engine until the auxiliary valve has been relieved from the obstacles under its seat
by the current of water passing through it, or the engine has been shut down and
the obstacle taken out by those in charge of the engine.
Further in case of any accident or breakage, either to the auxiliary valve or its
connecting mechanism, the valve may be removed until such a time as it can be
repaired, during which interval the engine may be operated as an ordinary pump
at a somewhat slower piston speed than is customary with the auxiliary valve in
commission.

page_text: In the organisation shewn in Figures 5 to 10 inclusive, it is of course apparent
that the valves d may be entirely omitted, though it is preferable to retain them.
In all of the organisations which have been described, it will be observed that the
valve which operates to cut off the pressure from in front of the plunger at the end
of the stroke is operated positively to do this, although in some cases there is a
yielding connection, which permits the pressure which is applied to close the valve
to be applied gradually, increasing as the plunger nears the end of its stroke, or
from the beginning or near the beginning to the end of the stroke. This yielding
connection also serves to prevent damage in case obstruction is offered to the
movement of the valve. The valve may open automatically as in the construction
shewn in Figures 1 to 4 or it may be operated positively in both directions, as shewn
in Figures 5 to 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed (as communicated to me from
abroad) I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the plunger of a direct acting steam pump, of a valve
located upon the force side of the plunger and means for positively closing the
valve to remove the pressure of the force main from in front of the plunger as it
reaches the end of its stroke, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the plunger of a direct acting steam pump, of a valve
located upon the force side of the plunger, a spring against which the valve opens
by the pressure of the water, and means for positively compressing said spring
against the valve to close it and remove the pressure of the force main from in
front of the plunger as it reaches the end of its stroke, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the plunger of a pump, of a valve located upon the
force side of the plunger, a spring against which the valve opens by the pressure
of the water, a rocking lever connected to a moving part of the pump, and a rod
also connected to said lever and arranged to compress said spring against the valve
to close it and remove the pressure of the force main from in front of the plunger
as it reaches the end of its stroke, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the plunger and force valves of a pump, of an auxiliary
valve located between the plunger and force main, and means for closing the valve
to prevent backward circulation of the water from the force main through the force
valves, as the plunger reaches the end of its stroke, substantially as described.
5. The combination with the plunger and force valves of a pump, of auxiliary
valves located between the plunger and force inain and controlling communication
between both ends of the plunger and the main, and connections between said
auxiliary valves and a moving part of the pump, whereby the valves are operated
to close communication between one end of the plunger and the force main and to
open communication at the other end, as the plunger reaches the end of its stroke,
substantially as described.
6. In a duplex direct acting pumping engine, the combination with the plungers
of a valve located upon the force side of each plunger, and means for positively
closing said valves to shut off the pressure of the force main from in front
of the plungers as they reach the end of their strokes, substantially as described.
7. In a duplex pumping engine, the combination with the motors on opposite
sides and their steam and water valves, of connections whereby the steam valves
are operated mechanically at the beginning of the stroke, by the motor on the
other side, and the water valves are closed mechanically at the end of the stroke
by the motor on their own side, substantially as described.
8. The combination with the cushioned motor piston and plunger of a direct
acting steam pumping engine, of a valve located upon the force side of the
plunger, and means for positively closing the valves to remove the pressure of the
force main from in front of the plunger as it reaches the end of its stroke,
substantially as described.
9. The combination with the cushioned motor pistons and plungers of a duplex

page_text: direct acting steam pumping engine, of a valve located upon the force side of
each plunger, and means for positively closing said valves to remove the pressure
of the force main from in front of the plungers as they reach the end of their
strokes, substantially as described.
10. In a duplex pump the combination with the piston rods, and valve move-
ments actuated thereby for operating the steam valves from opposite sides of the
pump, of devices for positively closing the water valves and connections between
said devices and the valve movements, whereby the valve movement on each side
of the pump operates the steam valves on the opposite side, and the water valves
on its own side substantially as described.
11. The combination with the valves d, of rods 10 having heads engaging the
valves, oscillating lever 13 carrying said rods, shaft 2 actuated by a moving part
of the pump and connecting rod 14 between said shaft and lever substantially as
described.
12. The combination with valves d of rods 10 having heads engaging said
valves, oscillating lever 13, bell crank levers 16 fulcrummed on said oscillating
lever and connected to the rods 10, spring 17, connecting said bell crank levers
rock shaft 2 actuated by a moving part of the pump and connecting rod 14 between
said shaft and lever 13, substantially as described.
13. The combination with the piston rods C, rock shafts 2 levers 3 and
connecting rods 4 for operating the steam valves of a duplex pump from opposite
sides, of devices for closing the water valves, and connecting rods 14 connecting
said devices with the rock shafts 2 actuated from their own side of the pump,
substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of September 1894.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.