IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Watson, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Watson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1876.
JAMES WATSON, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Engineer.
MENTS IN PUMPS."
" IMPROVE-
This Invention relates to pumps provided with valves of india-rubber or other
similar flexible material, and is chiefly designed to cheapen and simplify the con-
struction of these valves.
The said Invention is applicable to pumps for steam or hand fire engines, pumps
for locomotive, marine, or stationary engines, and to all pumps capable of being
fitted with india-rubber or other flexible valves.
The said Invention consists chiefly in so constructing the valve and valve seats
and passages that one valve controls both the suction and the delivery of the pump.
It also consists in the combination of these valves, valve seats, and passages with
the other parts of the pump, and in the adaptation of this peculiar arrangement of
valves, valve seats and passages to an oscillating pump.
In carrying my Invention into practise I take a sheet of india-rubber such as is
ordinarily used for these purposes, or any other suitable material of the necessary
dimensions and thickness. I fit this india-rubber or other sheet which forms the
valve between two faces properly shaped and with sufficient space between them to
allow the said valve to fit closely in contact with the said faces and to rise from the
same. The said valve is held at its central portion securely between the two
faces, which are so formed and arranged that there is only just sufficient space
between them at this central portion to allow the valve to be fitted therein, but one
face is curved or sloped away from this central portion on one side of the said
valve, and the other face is curved or sloped outward on the other side of the same.
Through the flat portions which are the valve seats I form apertures or ports for
the passage of the water, while the curved portions serve as stops or guards. The
said seats are preferably perforated with small holes or grated, and when the valve -
is open the water passes freely through them, but they are covered by the valve
when the same is closed. One of the said perforated or grated apertures is the
Price G

page_text: suction or inlet passage, and the other is the delivery or discharge aperture, and it
will thus be seen that I make one valve serve both as a suction and delivery valve.
The said valves are very readily applicable to cither single or double-acting
pumps. In single-acting pumps they may be arranged at either end of the barrel
in the usual manner; and in double-acting pumps they may be arranged at one or
both ends of the pump barrel.
By my Invention the valves are arranged close to the barrel of the pump, thereby
diminishing the air space and affording great facility for examination of the said
valve. Moreover the simplicity of construction of the said valves will considerably
reduce the cost of the manufacture of pumps.
In adapting the said Invention to oscillating pumps I may construct the same
with trunnions either at the end or at the centre of the barrel. One trunnion
connects with the suction pipe or passage, and the other with the delivery or
discharge pipe of the pump.
In applying my said Invention to a fire engine I prefer to have two double-
action oscillating pumps arranged opposite cach other and working on one central
crank or lever. The suction and discharge pipes are to be connected with the said
trunnions and with suitable air vessels. I enclose the barrels in suitable jackets
or casings; and if desired I may make the space enclosed between the said jackets
and the barrels serve as air vessels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Watson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th May
1877.
JAMES WATSON, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PUMPS."
This Invention relates to pumps provided with valves of india-rubber or other
similar flexible inaterial, such as leather, or india-rubber and canvas combined, or
the like, and is chiefly designed to cheapen and simplify the construction of these
valves.
The said Invention is applicable to pumps for steam or hand fire engines, pumps
for locomotive, marine, or stationary engines, to garden pumps, and to pumps for
other purposes, and may be substituted for or used in the place of the ordinary
india-rubber or other flexible valves in all cases where such valves are or may be
used.
The said Invention consists chiefly in so constructing the valves, valve seats, and
passages that one valve controls both the suction and the delivery of the pump, the
said valves, valve seats, and passages being combined with the other parts of the
pump and adapted to pumps with either fixed or oscillating cylinders or barrels, as
herein-after described.
The said valves are applicable to either single or double-acting pumps. In
single-acting pumps they may be arranged at either end of the barrel in the usual
manner, and in double-acting pumps they may be arranged at one or both ends, or
in the centre of the pump barrel.
By my Invention I obtain the advantage of having the valves arranged close to
the barrel of the pump, thereby diminishing the air space and affording great
facility for examination of the said valves. Moreover the simplicity of construc-
tion of the said valves will considerably reduce the cost of the manufacture of
pumps.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn how I carry my Invention into
practice with various forms of pumps.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of a double-acting pump with a fixed
barrel provided with valves according to my Invention; Figure 2 is an end view

page_text: of the same with the cover removed; Figure 3 shows the inner side of the said
cover.
Figure 4 is an elevation of a double-acting oscillating pump with trunnions at
the centre of its cylinder or barrel, and provided with valves according to the said.
Invention; Figure 5 is a transverse section of the same on the line x, x, Figure 4.
Figures 6 and 7 are longitudinal sections of a double-acting pump provided with
valves according to my Invention at one end of the same; Figure 8 is an under
side view of one of the valve seats of this pump.
Figure 9 is an elevation of a single-acting pump suitable for a garden pump or
the like, and provided with valves according to my Invention at its lower end;
Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of part of the said pump; Figure 11 is a plan
or top view of the valve box of the said pump detached.
Figure 12 is a plan or top view of a valve box for a single-acting pump, con-
structed according to my Invention, with the cover of the same removed; Figure 13
is a vertical section of the same on the line 3, 2, Figure 12.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
In forming the valve shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, I take a sheet of india-rubber
of the kind ordinarily used for forming valves and for similar purposes, or any other
suitable material, such as leather, india-rubber, and canvas, or the like, of the
necessary dimensions and thickness. I fit this india-rubber or other sheet which
forms the valve a between two faces b, c, properly shaped to ensure the close fitting
of the valve thereon, and with sufficient space between them to allow the said valve
to have the required movement between the said faces. The said valve is held at
its central portion a¹ securely between the two faces b, c, which are so formed and
arranged that there is only just sufficient space between them at this central portion
to allow the valve to be fitted therein, but the face b is curved or sloped away from
this central portion on one side of the said valve, and the other face c is curved or
sloped outward on the other side of the same, as shown. Through the flat portions
b, c, which are the valve seats I form apertures or ports for the passage of the
water, while the curved or sloping portions b², c², serve as stops or guards. The
said seats are preferably grated, as shewn at d, or they may be perforated with
small holes. When the valve is open or raised from the said seats the water passes
freely through them, but they are closed when the valve is down or in contact with
its seat.
In Figure 1 the perforated or grated seat b¹ is in the suction or inlet passage or
aperture e, and the other seat c¹ is in the delivery or discharge aperture or passage f,
and the valve a extends to and covers both of these seats. It will thus be seen
that I make one valve serve both as a suction and delivery valve.
The valve shewn in Figures 9, 10, and 11 is arranged and operates in the same
manner as the valves above described.
In Figures 6, 7, and 8 I have shown two valves a with an inlet chamber e¹
between them. One of these valves admits and discharges the water on one side
of the piston or plunger g, and the other valve admits and discharges the water ou
the other side of the said plunger. is the passage by which the water passes to
and from the upper or forward end of the pump.
In pumps in which the valves are subjected to a very high pressure I prefer to
place springs at the back of the said valves to strengthen the valves and assist in
closing the same.
In adapting the said Invention to oscillating pumps I may construct the same
with trunnions, either at the end or at the centre of the barrel. One trunnion
connects with the suction pipe or passage, and the other with the delivery or
discharge pipe of the pump.
In Figures 4 and 5 I have shewn a pump with trunnions i, j, at the centre of the
barrel. The trunnion is connected with the suction pipe, and the suction or inlet
passage e extends therefrom to the seat b¹, and through the same into the barrel.
The outlet or delivery passage f is through the seat c¹, and thence extends to and
through the trunnion j, as shown in Figure 5. Suitable longitudinal passages are

page_text: cast at the sides of the barrel to connect the trunnions with the valves at both ends
of the said barrel.
The valve and seats shown in Figures 12 and 13 are substantially the same as
those shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 10, and 11.
I may adapt the same arrangement of inlet and outlet passages to a pump with a
fixed barrel or cylinder.
In applying my said Invention to a fire engine I prefer to have two double-
action oscillating pumps arranged opposite each other and working on one central
crank or lever. The suction and discharge pipes are to be connected with the said
trunnions and with suitable air vessels. I enclose the barrels in suitable jackets or
casings, and if desired I may make the space enclosed between the said jackets and
the barrels serve as air vessels.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practise, I wish it understood that
I claim,―
First. In a pump provided with a valve or valves of india-rubber, leather, or
other like material, the valve or valves and valve seats so constructed and fitted
together and in combination with the suction and delivery passages that one valve
will control both the suction and the delivery of the said pump, as above set forth.
Second. The adaptation of the said Invention to a pump barrel oscillating on
trunnions, and which has the suction passage formed through one trunnion and the
delivery passage through the other trunnion, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Watson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.