Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Water and other Liquids by Means of a Series of Moving Chambers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Water and other Liquids by
Means of a Series of Moving Chambers.
I, JULIUS MARX of Bad-Nauheim in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturing
Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improved apparatus for elevating liquids according to this invention may be
employed for raising liquids in general but is more especially suited for raising
water from deep wells or for raising liquids which act injuriously upon ordinary
pumping devices. The said apparatus according to this invention is based upon
the principle of apparatus for raising liquids by means of a series or endless chain
of chambers or buckets carried round a wheel or drum but my improved arrange-
ment presents important advantages compared to the apparatus heretofore
employed its mechanical parts being capable of being situated above the ground
and all moving parts such as valves, guides, levers and the like being dispensed
with in the mechanism directly in contact with the liquid.
The necessity for descending into the well or other like place in order to inspect
or repair the apparatus is obviated all the working parts being easily accessible
this being an especially important advantage when the well or like place is of
great depth or contain injurious gases.
My said improved apparatus is constructed with a flexible tube or flexible tubes
made of an elastic material such as india rubber or caoutchouc preferably
strengthened by linings. The tube or tubes is or are provided at intervals with
holes or openings of dimensions suitable for the admission of liquid and below
each hole or opening a transverse partition is formed in the tube by means of a
block of any suitable material such as cork wood, india rubber or metal. These
blocks may be kept in place by rivets or by any other suitable fastening. By
these means a series of compartments or chambers is formed in the tube for the
reception of the liquid to be elevated. These compartments or chambers may
however be formed by means of any other similar arrangement or combination of
the parts such for instance as by a series of short lengths of tube connected
together.
In order to raise water from a well for example by means of an apparatus con-
structed according to this invention I employ a drum or wheel which is rotated
preferably by the aid of cogwheels receiving motion from a pulley or a crank
handle. This drum or wheel carries an endless tube the lower part of which is
immersed in the water in the well. Guide wheels are employed to guide the
elevating tube to the mouth of the well.
When rotary motion is imparted to the wheel or drum the part of the tube on
one side of the wheel descends and the part on the other side ascends. The relative
positions of the holes or openings in the side of the tube and the partitions are so
arranged that the ascending part of the tube carries up the water which enters the
chambers through the openings in the side of the tube and is discharged at the
level of the wheel or drum where it is received in a trough which conveys it to a
tank or reservoir or other desired place.
In order to prevent waste of water it is preferable to box in or enclose the
whole apparatus which may conveniently be done with sheets of zinc or the wheel
or drum may be provided with curved troughs made in sections fitting closely to
the lower part of the wheel.
A portion of the water elevated is liable to be carried back into the well with
he descending part of the tube.

page_text: To counteract this a frame is provided supporting an elastic plate sheet or ring
of gutta percha india rubber vulcanized fibre, leather or other suitable material
not liable to injure the tube. This plate or sheet is provided with a hole having
cuts in its edges and this hole which should be of smaller area than the tube is
placed above the opening in the trough which the tube passes. The plate or sheet
is placed on an inclined plane in order to facilitate the escape of the water and as
the tube is drawn through the opening in the said sheet the liquid is wiped off
from the sides of the tube and drops into the trough provided for its reception.
To enable the air to escape from the chambers or compartments it is necessary
to regulate the distance between the holes according to the diameter of the tube
and the size of the holes.
It is preferable to employ a double or multiple tube for liquid and air respectively
and one liquid tube or two or more such tubes may be used with one air tube.
For example two elevating tubes with one air tube between them may be employed.
The elevating tubes are filled through the openings in their sides whilst the air
passes through holes made on each side into the air-tube whence it escapes through
other holes communicating with the atmosphere. The air tube if desired may be
placed inside the liquid tube.
According to another arrangement the escape of the air from the chambers or
compartments may be facilitated by employing tubes of a larger diameter or by :
providing small holes on a level with the filling holes. In this case the air escapes
principally through the small holes the water entering by the larger filling holes.
In place of employing a tube divided into compartments a series of short tubes
or chambers may be combined or connected together to form an endless tube or
chain of chambers. An arrangement very suitable when elastic materials such as
india rubber, gutta percha and the like are employed for the tubes consists of a
series of cylindrical or otherwise shaped vessels or tubular sections made some-
what smaller at their lower ends than at the upper ends so as to enable the small
lower end of each section to be inserted into the upper end of the adjoining
section. Each chamber or vessel may be formed with a closed bottom or it may
be simply closed at the lower end by a cork or stopper secured by a rivet con-
necting the parts together.
According to another arrangement rigid materials such as metals, ebonite and
the like are employed. In this case the tube is composed of a series of chambers
or vessels made spherical at both ends. The spherical part of the upper end of
each section being larger than the spherical part at the lower end the smaller end
of each section is inserted into the corresponding end of the next section which is
provided with a slit or slits to enable it to open sufficiently to pass over the end of
the other section.
This done the slit or slits is or are closed by soldering folding rivetting or other
suitable means. Thus the upper sphere of each vessel fits the lower sphere of the
vessel above and forms a spherical bearing or ball and socket joint which permits
each part to be moved in all directions so that a series of compartments is formed
presenting the appearance of an endless tube.
The air tube herein before mentioned can be employed with these arrangements
or small holes can be made on a level with or slightly above the openings for the
liquid to facilitate the escape of the air.
Dated this 8th dex of Santember 1801

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Water and other Liquids by
Means of a Series of Moving Chambers.
I JULIUS MARX of Bad-Nauheim in the Empire of Germany Manufacturing
Chemist 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 :-
The improved apparatus for elevating liquids according to this invention may
be employed for raising liquids in general but is more especially suited for raising
water from deep wells or pits, or for raising liquids which act injuriously upon
ordinary pumping devices as the improved arrangement facilitates the employment
of non corrosive materials in the construction of the apparatus.
The said apparatus according to this invention is based upon the employment of
a series or endless chain of chambers or receptacles carried round a wheel or drum
but my improved arrangement presents important advantages compared to the
apparatus heretofore employed all its mechanical or actuating parts being capable
of being situated above the ground and all moving parts such as valves, guides,
levers and the like being dispensed with in the mechanism directly in contact with
the liquid.
The necessity for descending into the well or other like place such as a pit or
mine in order to inspect or repair the apparatus is obviated, all the working parts
being above ground and easily accessible. This constitutes an especially important
advantage when the well or like place is of great depth or contains injurious gases.
My said improved apparatus is constructed with a tubular elevator formed by
an endless flexible tube or a combination of two or more such tubes made of an
elastic material such as india rubber or caoutchouc gutta percha or the like
preferably strengthened by linings of suitable materials such as cloth, wires, ropes
belts or the like. The tube or tubes is or are provided at intervals with holes or
openings of dimensions suitable for the admission of liquid and below each hole or
opening a transverse partition is formed in the tube by means of a plug or partition
of any suitable material such as cork, wood, india rubber, or metal. These plugs
divide the tube into a series of compartments or chambers and may be kept in
place by rivets or by any other suitable fastening.
The series of compartments or chambers may be formed by means of any other
similar arrangement or combination of the parts such for instance as by connecting
together a number of short lengths of tube as hereinafter explained.
This endless tube is supported upon a revolving drum or wheel and guide wheels
may be employed to guide the tube to the mouth of the well or place containing
the liquid to be elevated.
When rotary motion is imparted to the wheel or drum the part of the tube on
one side of the wheel descends and the part on the other side ascends.
The
relative positions of the holes or openings in the side of the tube and the partitions
are so arranged that the ascending part of the tube carries up the liquid which
enters the chambers through the openings in the side of the tube and is discharged
at or below the lower parts of the wheel or drum where it is received in a trongh
which conveys it to a tank or reservoir or other desired place.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an apparatus for raising
water from a well constructed according to my invention, the drum or pulley
working the endless tube (or series of chambers) being arranged directly over the
mouth of the well.
Figure 2 represents a similar apparatus with the said drum or pulley arranged
at one side of the well mouth,

page_text: Figure 3 represents a tube employed in raising liquids according to this invention
and
Figures 4 to 11 represent modifications in the construction or arrangement of
the said tube as hereinafter explained.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 represent details in the construction of apparatus employed
in combination with the endless tube.
The apparatus (Figures 1 and 2) is constructed with a wheel or drum a which
is caused to rotate by means of a toothed wheel b driven by a pinion c. The shaft
of the pinion c may be actuated by means of a pulley or a crank handle for
example. Obviously the toothed gearing may be dispensed with and the power
may be applied directly to the shaft of the pulley a. The said pulley supports an
endless tube d the lower part of which is immersed in the water in the well e¹.
Two guide pulleys or wheels g and h are provided simply for the purpose of guiding
the elevating tube d to the month of the well and preferably revolve on steel
points or centres in order to work with a minimum of friction.
These guide pulleys may be arranged as represented in Figure 1 or as represented
in Figure 2 or in any other suitable manner enabling the tube to be suitably guided
between the main pulley or drum a and the well or place from which the liquid is
to be drawn.
The construction of the flexible tube d is illustrated more clearly in Figure 3
which represents a portion of the tube drawn to a larger scale. It is divided
internally into a number of chambers or compartments by blocks or plugs u
retained in position by rivets v. Each chamber is provided with an opening & near
one end for the admission and discharge of the liquid. The distance between the
openings and their area must be regulated in accordance with the diameter of the
tube so as to enable the entrance of the liquid and the escape of the air to take
place without difficulty or in other words to enable the chambers to be readily filled
and emptied.
When rotary motion is imparted to the pulley a the tube d travels in the direction
of the arrows represented in the drawing the portion at i immersed in the water
in the well becomes filled with water which is carried up to the level of the pulley.
In passing over the pulley the position of the chambers is inverted and their
contents flow out into a collecting trough m which empties into the reservoir n or
other receptacle suitable for the purpose.
In order to prevent waste of water it is preferable to box in or enclose the whole
apparatus which may conveniently be done with sheets of zinc or the wheel or
drum may be provided with a curved trough made in sections o' 0" o as
represented in Figure 14 fitting more or less closely to the lower part of the wheel.
In this case the water runs out of an outlet p in the section o" into the collecting
trough m.
To counteract the tendency of the tube d to carry a film of water adhering to
its surface back into the well e a device illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 is employed.
This device represented in elevation in Figure 12 and in plan in Figure 13 is con-
structed with a frame p covered with an elastic plate or sheet P of gutta percha,
india rubber, vulcanized fibre, leather or other suitable yielding material, which
is not liable to injure the tube. This plate or sheet P is provided with a hole (Q)
having cuts or slits in its periphery and this hole Q which is of smaller diameter
than the tube d is arranged above the opening in the trough m through which
the tube passes in its descent. The plate or sheet P is tilted or inclined, (Figure 12)
in order to facilitate the flow of the water. The hole Q being enabled to fit closely
around the tube d by means of the slits the film of liquid which would otherwise
be carried back into the well by the said tube is wiped off and caused to flow
into the trough m. It is convenient to arrange this device in such a manner that
it cannot move vertically but is capable of sliding horizontally so as to accom-
modate itself to the swaying movements of the tube d.
To enable the air to escape readily from the chambers or compartments in the
tube d it is necessary to regulate the distance between the holes t in accordance

page_text: with the size of the holes and the diameter of the tube. In a tube of small
diameter the holes t require to be closer together than in a tube of large diameter
which admits of larger holes being provided.
The diameter of the tube must not be increased beyond certain limits as this
would render it incapable of working properly over the wheel or drum.
In place of a single tube of large diameter such as that represented in Figure 3.
it is preferable to employ a multiple tube such as the double tube represented in
Figure 4. In this case the multiple tube may consist of two liquid tubes w¹ wll
and one air tube to placed between the two liquid tubes.
The liquid enters the chambers in the tubes wo" through openings t whilst
the air escapes through holes made at y connecting the lower end of the chambers s
with the air tube to into which the air passes as the chambers are drawn through
the liquid and from which it escapes through holes connecting the said air tube
with the atmosphere. The double tube (Figure 4) has the additional advantage of
being less liable to become distorted or contracted by twisting or turning upon its
axis. It is evident that an air tube may also be employed in combination with
one liquid tube being arranged either inside or outside the latter.
Another way to facilitate the escape of air from the compartments or chambers
is to employ tubes of a larger diameter or to provide small vent holes on a level
with the fitting holes t or preferably somewhat higher as indicated at a Figures 9
and 10. In this case the air escapes through the small vent holes and the water
enters through the larger or filling holes t.
On passing over the wheel or drum a the tube undergoes a certain amount of
squeezing or compression which increases in proportion to the diameter of the tube
and tends to contract the compartments s and diminish the practical effect of the
machine. This tendency to contraction may be counteracted by employing a tube
with thick walls but the wall may be thinner in a double than in a single tube by
reason of the inserted air tube w" which strengthens or supports the adjoining
walls of the liquid tubes (r' 10").
According to another arrangement the tubes may be constructed so as to act
merely as receptacles for the liquid the strain resulting from the work of lifting
being supported by a rope or cable attached to the tubes as hereinafter explained.
Instead of forming the compartments s by means of partitions inserted in a
continuous tube the compartments or chambers may be conveniently formed by
connecting together a series of short sections or lengths of tube as represented in
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 for example.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an arrangement more suitable to be used with sections
composed of elastic materials such as india rubber gutta percha and the like. The
tube is composed of a series of cylindrical or otherwise shaped vessels or chambers e
(two of which are shewn disconnected in Figure 6) made somewhat smaller at the
lower ends so as to admit of this end being inserted into the upper end of the
adjacent tubular section as represented in Figure 5. These sections may be formed
with a bottom or the lower ends (Figure 6) may simply be closed by a cork or
other plug u as indicated in Figure 5 secured by a rivet; which also connects the
ends of the tubular sections. By means of this arrangement a flexible tube-like
series of compartments is obtained the compartments being filled through holes t
as hereinbefore described.
Another arrangement shewn illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 is more advantageous
in constructing the tube sections with stiff or rigid materials such as metal, ebonite
and the like.
In this case the tubular sections e are made of spherical form at both ends the
spherical part at the upper end. being larger than the corresponding.part at the
lower end, so as to enable the sections to be connected together by inserting
the spherical part at the lower end of each section into the spherical part or socket
at the upper end of the next or adjacent section as represented in Figure 7. The
socket ends are shit as represented in Figure 8 to facilitate the insertion of the
lower ends and the latter are closed so that each section forms a separate chamber,

page_text: After the closed end is inserted in the socket the slit is closed by soldering, folding
rivetting or by any other suitable means. The series of sections or chambers e are
thus connected together by a species of ball and socket joint which permits each
part to move to a certain extent and cause the combination of sections to present
the appearance of a tube.
Of course all modifications of or substitutes for the air tube herein before referred to
can be combined with the arrangements described for facilitating the egress of the air.
Although as hereinbefore explained it is not advantageons to employ tubes of a
large diameter in their original form such tubes may be utilised with advantage to
make double tubes by sewing together the opposite sides of a large tube as
represented in Figure 9 by means of a longitudinal seam as indicated by the
dotted line at z. In like manner a tube of large diameter may be divided
into three or more tubes if required or two seams may be made near together
to form an air tube of small diameter between two large tubes (Figure 4).
As hereinbefore stated the tubes may be relieved of the strain of lifting the liquid
by being arranged to act merely as receptacles. With this object they are
combined with a rope or cable or are attached to a flat band or belt. A con-
venient arrangement of this kind is illustrated in Figure 10 and consists in sewing
together the sides of the tube with two longitudinal seams as indicated at 2 so as
to enclose a rope 21. By these means the strain of lifting is placed upon the
rope and the tubes or chambers being relieved from this strain are less liable to
become stretched and worn out. Like advantages can be secured even to a greater
degree by attaching the tubes to a belt or strap.
The plugs or blocks u hereinbefore mentioned instead of being made solid may
be made in the form of cups or vessels as represented in Figure 11 thus enabling
part of the space occupied by each plug to be utilised for carrying liquid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An apparatus for raising water and other liquids constructed with a tubular
elevator composed of one or more flexible tubes divided by transverse partitions
forming a series of chambers or receptacles provided with orifices for the admission
and discharge of the liquid the said elevator working over one or more pulleys or
drums situated at or above the level to which the liquid is to be elevated substan-
tially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In combination with a tubular elevator arranged and operating as hereinbefore
described and claimed air holes & Figures 9 and 10 or an air tube (Figure 4)
arranged either inside or outside the said tubular elevator for the purpose of
facilitating the escape of air from the chambers in the said elevator substantially
as hereinbefore described.
3. The device for collecting the liquid adhering to the tubular elevator con-
sisting of an inclined sheet of elastic material presenting an orifice for the passage
of the said elevator the edges of the said orifice being preferably slit to facilitate
the passage of the elevator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus for raising water and other liquids as hereinbefore described and
claimed the combination of a rope belt or equivalent flexible support with the
tubular elevator for the purpose of relieving the latter of the strain of lifting the
liquid as herein before described.
5. The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the improved
apparatus for raising water and other liquid by means of a series of moving
chambers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.