AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC CONDENSING STEAM PUMP AND MOTOR FOR ELEVATING WATER AND FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND BOATS OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Auguste Burr, of the City of Washington,
in the District of Columbia and United States of America, Bar-
rister, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC CONDENSING STEAM
PUMP AND MOTOR FOR ELEVATING WATER AND FOR PROPELLING SHIPS AND
BOATS OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS."-A communication from William Edgar
Prall, residing in the City of Washington and United States of
America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said David Auguste Burr at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 19th October 1871, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Davi
AUGUSTE BURR, of the City of Washington, in the District of Columbia,
and United States of America, Barrister, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for “AN. IMPROVED
AUTOMATIC CONDENSING STEAM Pump and MOTOR FOR ELEVATING WATER AND FOR

page_text: PROPELLING SHIPS AND BOATS OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS," and have petitioned Her
Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declara-
tion that it has been communicated to me from William Edgar Prall,
a person resident in the City of Washington, and United States of
America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Auguste Burr, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:-
-
This Invention relates to an apparatus for elevating water or pro-
pelling vessels wherein the water is first drawn into a cylinder by means
of a condensation of steam therein, and then expelled by a direct
pressure of steam thereon.
The first part of the Invention consists in connecting by an inter-
mediate rod or other device the arm or lever opening and closing a cock.
or throttle valve in the pipe supplying steam to the cylinder with an
elastic diaphragm stretched in a suitable case over the mouth of a pipe
opening at its other end into said cylinder, near to its port, or with a
piston moving in a cylinder connected with said pipe, the object of this
part of the Invention being to obtain an automatic movement of said
cock or valve to cut off the steam supply so soon as the water is expelled
from the cylinder and to open and renew it so soon as the cylinder
becomes filled with water.
The second part of said Invention consists, first, in forming a direct
communication between the cylinder and a reservoir of water elevated
above the cylinder (and formed either in the delivery pipe of the
apparatus, or constructed independent thereof), by means of a steam
pipe opening into the lower portion of the cylinder near to its port; s
and, second, in combining with the cylinder an injection pipe leading
from said reservoir, and opening into the cylinder at a central point
thercof, and which is fitted with a valve to prevent all escape of steam
or return of water from the cylinder, the object of this part of the
Invention being to provide for an injection of cold water into the. g
cylinder so soon as it is filled with steam by admitting the steam under
pressure from the cylinder upon the water in the reservoir, the which
pressure, added to the weight of the column of water in the reservoir

page_text: and the injection pipe will suffice to force the water through said pipe
into the cylinder and thereby produce a condensation of the steam
therein.
The third part of this Invention consists in the combination of a
› second elevated reservoir (either formed in the delivery pipe of the
apparatus by the introduction of a second valve therein, or else con-
structed separately. therefrom) with the cylinder, by means of a second
injection pipe opening into the upper part of said cylinder, and provided
with a valve to prevent an escape of steam or reflow of water through
the same, the object of this part of the Invention being to hasten the
condensation of steam in the cylinder by an additional injection of
water, which will flow in from its own gravity so soon as the pressure
of steam is so far reduced by the first injection as no longer to afford
sufficient resistance to support the weight of this second column of
water.
The fourth part of the Invention consists in the construction and use
in the cylinder of a hot-water piston formed of two or more discs or
flanges upon a central tube encircling a guide rod, the object of this
part of the Invention being to confine a body of water between the
flanges, which body of water becoming heated shall remain in the
cylinder while the apparatus is in operation, and serve as a non-con-
ducting packing between the cold water and the steam to prevent a
condensation of the latter when it enters the cylinder from the boiler.
The connecting of this hot-water piston with the throttle valve of the
steam supply pipe by means of a rod which shall serve to open and
close the valve automatically by the movements of the piston is herein
contemplated as a substitute for the diaphragm. In such case the con-
necting rod would pass from the piston head through a suitably packed
aperture in the head of the cylinder so as to reach the valve placed in
the pipe over the same.
In applying my Invention- to the propulsion of vessels the water is
drawn into the cylinder from the bow of the boat by the production of a
vacuum in the cylinder through the condensation of steam therein, as
described, and is then expelled with the full force of a direct pressure of
the steam thereon at the stern of the boat.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the
improved apparatus when constructed as a water elevator; Figure 2
is a sectional diagram illustrating the operation of the apparatus in
'
'

page_text: elevating water, and also the manner of combining its several parts ; ·
Figure 3 is an enlarged diametric section of the diaphragm and its case;
Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating the use and application of a hot-
water piston in combination with the apparatus.
Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating the application and operation i
of my improved apparatus in the propulsion of ships.
The object of this Invention is to produce a cheap, simple, and
efficient automatic apparatus that will utilizo both the direct force of
steam, and also its property of producing a vacuum by its condensation
for the purpose either of elevating and forcing water, or of propelling 1
vessels in and through this element.
The construction and operation of this novel apparatus is as follows,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings :— .
•
A is a metallic cylinder lined within or without, but preferably within
with wood or some other good non-conductor of heat; B (Figures 1, 2, 1
and 4) is an induction pipe which connects the cylinder with the water
supply; C is a simple valve of any approved form and construction placed
in the induction pipe B to open inwardly; D is a discharge pipe con-
nected to the induction pipe B between the cylinder and the valve C, and
which conveys the water to any desired point; E and F are simple 2
valves of any approved form and construction, opening outwardly and
placed in said discharge pipe, one near the botton and the other at a
point higher up, the object whereof will be herein-after described; G
and H are small pipes connecting the discharge pipo D with the
cylinder A between the valves E and F; K is a valve in the pipe H 2
opening towards the cylinder A; 6 is a sprinkler placed on the end of
the pipe H, which is extended into the centre of cylinder A; L is a pipe.
connecting the discharge pipe D above its upper valve F with the upper
portion of cylinder A, and M. is a valve placed in said pipe and opening
towards the cylinder; O is a cock or throttle valve placed in a steam 3
pipe N which leads from a suitable steam boiler and opens into the
upper end of the cylinder A; P is a case containing and confining a
diaphragms of india-rubber, or of very thin elastic metal, or of any
yielding elastic material, said case being connected by a pipe I opening
through its inner side with the lower end of the cylinder A; S is a rod 3
extending from a plate secured to the centre of the diaphragm, outwardly
through an opening in the case P to the arm or lever operating the
throttle valve O; U is a deflecting plate placed opposite the mouth of

page_text: the steam pipe N in the cylinder A to deflect and distribute the current
of steam entering the cylinder; V is a very small tube provided with
a valve so arranged as to admit air into the cylinder during the con-
densation of steam therein, but to prevent an escape of steam thereat;
W is a cock to close said pipe at pleasure; R, Figure 4, is a hot water
piston which I contemplate using in some forms of my apparatus.
It is constructed of two or more buoyant discs arranged at intervala
upon a central tube and when used is placed within the cylinder so as
to move freely upon a central fixed rod Y passing through its central
tube and fixed at one end to the deflecting plate U, and at its other to
a second similarly arranged plate U'; X, Figure 5, is a horizontal pipe
laid longitudinally in the bottom of a suitable ship or boat and opening
at either end through the bow and stern of the vessel with or without
enlarged openings or branch pipes and into which the port of the
cylinder of my apparatus is made to open at some convenient central
point thereof; 2, 2, are hinged valves free to swing in either direction
placed in said pipe X on either side of the cylinder port, and 3, 3,
are pivotted notched catches, operated by suitable levers to arrest the
movement of the valves in the one direction or the other at pleasure.
The operation of this apparatus when used for elevating or forcing
water is as follows:-The cylinder and pipes are first filled with water.
The weight of the water in the cylinder bearing against the lower or
inner side of the diaphragm s'in the case P (or against a piston as its
équivalent) causes it to rise and turn the throttle valve O in the steam
pipe so as to open the same, and the apparatus is now ready for use and
for automatic action. So soon as steam is admitted from the boiler
into the steam pipe N it passes at once through the open valve O into
the cylinder A, and being deflected and diffused in the head thereof by
the plate U over the water contained therein will bear upon said water
with its full pressure and expel the same through the port of the
cylinder and the pipe D, the valve C in the induction pipe B preventing
its flow in that direction.
In the practical operation of the apparatus it will be found that the
stratum of air left in the cylinder above the water will prevent a con-
densation of the steam entering the cylinder. So soon as the water has
been forced down by the steam below the bend in the pipe G, the
11
AL

page_text: branch pipo I and the remainder be forced upward through the pipe G
into the enlarged portion 5 of the pipe D. The steam passing up
through the pipe G will bear upon the column of water in the pipe D,
and in the injection pipe H connected therowith, so that its pressure
added to the weight of the column of water in said pipes D and H will
open the valve K in the pipe H and force the water into the cylinder A
through the sprinkler 6. The cold water thus injected into the cylinder
will cause an immediate condensation of the steam therein, and thus
produce a vacuum the force of which will draw the diaphragm s inward
and by means of the connecting rod 8 close the throttle valve O and
prevent a further supply of steam to the cylinder. So soon as the
pressure is lessened in the cylinder by reason of the condensation pro-
duced by the injection of cold water from the pipe H the weight of the
column of water in the second pipe L will open the valve M and produce
a second injection to hasten the complete condensation of the steam.
So soon as the condensation commences water from the induction pipe B
will. immediately flow up with great rapidity to fill the exhausted
cylinder, but so soon as the cylinder is thus filled the pressure of the
water will operate to force the diaphragm & outward, and this movement
will open the throttle valve and again admit steam in the cylinder to :
expel the water therefrom as before described. The second injection
pipe L is merely auxilliary to the first, and although useful may be
dispensed with. The diaphragms will lie and bear against the inner
surface of its case P so soon as its movement in either direction is com-
pleted, and it is thus protected from any strain under the pressure of :
water or steam thereon, except so far as is required to move the throttle
valve O. An annular chamber is formed in the upper part of the
enlarged portion 5 of the pipe D by means of a flange projecting inwardly
around the opening of the upper section D' of said pipe D, as illustrated
in Figure 2. The air carried by the water through the pipe will be caught
in said annular chamber and will serve as a non-conducting medium to
prevent a condensation of the jet of steam entering through the pipe G,
which produces an injection of water into the cylinder A. as described.
To ensure the presence of a stratum of air in the cylinder over the
water therein a small vent tube V is made to open into the cylinder A. §
at its upper end. This vent tube is provided with a valve to permit an
inward flow of air when a vacuum is produced in the cylinder, but
which will prevent an escape of steam therefrom. As a substitute for
said vent tube the central plate of the elastic diaphragm & may be

page_text: pierced with a small aperture, and a corresponding aperture i, sce
Figure 3, be formed in and through the lower wall of its case P to
communicate with the pipe 1, and with which the aperture in the
diaphragm shall exactly register when the latter is drawn inward by a
condensation of steam in the cylinder A. This aperture will serve to
admit air into the cylinder at the moment of exhaust, and the vent V
will in this case not be required. All excess of air in the apparatus is
carried off with the water through the discharge pipe.
In the larger sizes of my apparatus for pumping very great quantities
of water it may be that the stratum of air in the upper end of the
cylinder A will not suffice to prevent wholly a condensation of the steam
entering from the boiler. In such case the buoyant hot water piston R,
Figure 4, is combined with the cylinder. After the machine has been
working a short time the water confined between the heads of this
piston will become heated, and as this water is never wholly discharged
and its agitation is prevented by the heads and flanges of the piston it
not only serves admirably as a hot packing between the steam and cold
water, but also leaves the sides of the cylinder hot, thus preventing very
effectually a condensation of the steam during the operation of forcing
out the water. Where this piston is employed the injection is made
wholly from the side of the cylinder, as illustrated in Figure 4, instead
of from a central sprinkler, as illustrated in Figure 2.
When the apparatus is required for use in raising or forcing hot water
the injection pipes H, L, and pressure pipe G are connected with an
elevated cold water reservoir which is independent of the cylinder and of
its discharge pipe D.
When the diaphragms is arranged as illustrated in the Drawings a
weight T may be placed upon the rod S operating the throttle valve to
quicken the movement of said diaphragm. The position and arrange-
ment of the diaphragm s in relation to the remaining parts of the
apparatus is however by no means limited to that herein-before described
and illustrated in the Drawings, for it can be placed in connection with
any part of the machine where the force of the steam and the vacuum
produced by the condensation thereof will serve to move it in opposito
directions.
A very advantageous modification in the position and arrangement
of the diaphragm is obtained by connecting it with either the pipe D
or the pipe H by a branch therefrom opening into the lower portion of

page_text: "
the case P, the upper portion of said case being closed and connected
by a second pipe with the bottom of the cylinder A. In this case
whilst the pressure of the water in the cylinder when the steam is
acting thereon will be communicated to the outer side of the diaphragm
and operate to open the throttle valve, the pressure of the column of
water in the pipe D or H operating against its inner side will so soon
as the steam escapes up through the pipe G, and before a vacuum is
produced in the cylinder, combine with the pressure of the steam
entering the pipe D or H and cause a very quick movement of the
diaphragm to close the throttle valve. A small movcable piston,
arranged to be operated by the same forces so as to communicate a
motion to the cut-off or throttle valve may be employed as an equivalent
for the diaphragm 8.
To produce a continuous flow of water from this apparatus an air
chamber may be connected in the usual manner with the delivery
pipe D, and two or more cylinders may be combined with the same
air chamber and with a common discharge pipe therefrom.
In applying this apparatus to the propulsion of vessels the port of
the cylinder A is connected immediately with a horizontal pipe X, see
Figure 5, laid parallel with the keel of the vessel, and opening freely at:
the bow and stern thereof. Valves 2, 2, are placed in said horizontal
pipe on either side of the cylinder port, and are so secured by suitable
catches as that when one opens inwardly the other shall open freely
outwardly and vice versa. The water drawn in from one end of the
pipe X by the condensation of steam in the cylinder is forcibly expelled:
through the other end of the same pipe by the return pressure of steam,
which is thus applied directly to produce by its reaction a forward
movement of the vessel in a contrary direction. In this form of appa-
ratus the water for injection is supplied from a distinct reservoir 8,
which is filled by a pipe leading thereto from the bottom of the cylinder, 1
as illustrated in Figure 5 of tho Drawings.
Where referenco is made in this Specification to the cylinder A of the
apparatus herein described it will be understood that said vessel or
chamber A need not necessarily be cylindrical but may be polygonal,
or of any desired form.
Having thus described the Invention, I claim therein as new,-
1. The elastic diaphragm & (or a piston as its equivalent) when com-
bined substantially as described with a cylinder A and with a throttle

page_text: valve in the steam pipe leading thereto to operate in the manner and for
the purpose herein set forth.
2. The pressure pipe G and injection pipe H connected and combined
with the cylinder A and with a cold water reservoir elevated above said
cylinder, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set
forth.
3. The arrangement of the valves E and F and connecting pipe D in
combination with the cylinder A. when said pipe is made to contain
water for condensation at an elevation above said cylinder, substantially
as shown and described.
4. The auxilliary injection pipe L in combination with the cylinder A,
primary injection pipo H, and pipe D' or other elevated water reservoir,
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
5. The cylinder A, steam pipe N, throttle valve O, diapragm 8, induc-
tion pipe B, discharge pipe and reservoir D, and pressure and injection
pipes G and H when combined with each other, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
6. A buoyant piston R. constructed to confine a column of warm water
between its heads, and operating to prevent a condensation of the steam
entering the cylinder A when the latter is filled with water, substantially
in the manner herein set forth.
7. The cylinder A constructed and arranged to operate, substantially
as herein described, in combination with a pipe X fitted with valves 2, 2,
and having outward vent at the bow and stern of a vessel for the purpose
of propelling said vessel, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Auguste Burr, hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.