An Improved Steam Pump.
Year: 1890

page_text: ate of Application, 24th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
An Improved Steam Pump.
I, CHARLES SHEPPARD, of the New Foundry, Bridgend, South Wales,
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 :-
My invention relates to steam pumps, and it comprises the improvements
hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing-
Figure 1 is a plan of a steam pump provided with my improvements:
Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section; and,
Figure 3 is an end elevation.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respectively an elevation, a section and a plan of one of
the pump-valves and its seating.
a, a is a double beam mounted upon a suitable standard or pedestal and
connected at one end by links c, e with a cross-head d, the said cross-head working
in suitable guides e, e and being secured to the piston-rod of a steam cylinder g.
The other end of the said beam is connected to the rod of a pump h.
It will be noticed that, as shewn, the end of the beam in connection with the
working cylinder is twice the length of the end in connection with the pump,
the object of this arrangement being to give the working piston a stroke double
that of the pump. Although, however, I prefer this arrangement I wish it
understood that I do not consider it essential.
In practice I prefer to employ two pumps, in which case the second pump is
placed between the working cylinder and the standard as shewn at i.
j, are arms formed upon the beam, which arms serve to transmit rotary motion
to the shaft and the fly-wheels 1, 1 through the medium of the rods m, m and
crank-pins n, n.
The engine slide valve is worked direct from the crank shaft
mediate crank or eccentric turned out of the solid.
by an inter-
The engine and pumps are mounted on a bed-plate o which contains the
necessary passages to allow the water to flow into and out of the pumps, and is
bored out to receive gun-metal valve seats, and the pump barrels or casings.
The valves and seatings are made annular, that is to say, they consist of rings, as
shewn in Figures 4, 5 and 6.
The seating A consists of a single casting made with annular openings B, B, B.
The valve, which works on a turned spindle, is made with similar openings C, C, C
arranged so that they shall be opposite and therefore be covered by the rings D, D
of the seating, the openings in the seating being similarly covered by the rings
of the valve.
When the valve is lifted the water or other liquid is allowed to escape freely,
not only on the outside edge E of the valve but-also- through-all of the annular
spaces C, C, C.
By this means I obtain a very free passage of water, with a very small
lift of the valve from its seat compared with ordinary valves where the discharge
takes place from the outside edge only; and the pressure on the valve is con-
siderably less than the pressure on ordinary valves thereby greatly reducing the
wear and tear.
In the case of small pumps I employ only two rings in each valve and seating;
three, four or more rings being used in large pumps.
The rods connecting the pump plungers to the beams are each fitted at the
beam end with a T-head and brasses of the marine pattern. At the pump end

page_text: the upper
half of which socket is kept in position by the gland r which is fitted with bolts
and nuts for taking up the wear.
each connecting rod has a ball or sphere p working in a socket
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 :-
1. The combination of parts forming the improved steam pump hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the several figures of the accompanying drawing.
2. In a steam pump of the kind herein before described the beam having arms,
as shewn, the said arms being connected to the crank-shaft, substantially as
described.
3. In an engine of the kind herein before described, working the slide-valve as
described, the use of the ball and socket joint with tightening gland, and annular
valves and seatings, all substantially as set forth.
Dated the 24th day of December 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.