Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Water and other Liquids.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st Sept., 1892-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Water and other Liquids.
1, CUTHBERT BURNETT of South Hetton in the County of Durham Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to pistonless apparatus for raising water and other liquids
by the means of steam and injection or condensing water admitted into the apparatus,
the steam being capable of acting expansively thus effecting economy; the apparatus
being also simple in construction and reliable in action.
The apparatus is constructed with two or more working chambers which may be
made independently or as compartments in one casting. I shall describe the
apparatus with two adjoining chambers each fitted with a suction and delivery
valve and with a common suction chamber and suction and delivery pipes.
The upper end of each chamber is provided with a valve by preference of the
double beat type and connected to each valve is a piston working in a cylinder
preferably directly above such valve the whole being by preference enclosed in one
casing which also forms the steam chest into which the steam is admitted by a stop
valve for stopping and starting the pump and for regulating the supply of steam
when working.
The steam chamber or equivalent passages are so arranged that a connection is
formed between the under side of each piston and the upper end of the working
chamber in question. There is also a small port or passage between the underside
of each piston and the upper side of the other piston. At a convenient point below
the suction valves of the pump is fixed an air snifting valve. This arrangement
secures equal air admission to both working chambers. This snifting valve serves
the purpose of preventing the water from entering the steam valves because the
air admitted by each valve acts as a cushion below the steam valve; this cushion
also serves to receive the impact of the water on filling. The steam when expelling.
the water acts also upon this air stratum instead of upon the water direct.
A double armed lever may be. fitted between the two valves for the purpose of
effecting or assisting the starting the action of the apparatus, the weigh shaft fitted
with external handle may pass through one side of the steam chamber and the
inlet to the steam chamber may be on the opposite side. The double armed lever
is by preference fitted with ample clearance at the ends so that the valves can act
independently of cach other and of said lever. Each working chamber is provided
with water injection inlet supplied from the rising main or otherwise.
If the apparatus is constructed with an air vessel the injection water will be
taken from a point above the delivery outlet the air vessel at this point being
reduced in sectional area or the same result may be attained by placing the delivery
pipe in the centre of the air vessel and enlarging the lower end of pipe.
Water
This arrangement affords a more uniform pressure of injection water.
having been admitted to the working chambers for instance from a filling plug on
one of them or on the air vessel the steam stop valve is opened and the starting
lever if fitted worked up and down a few strokes at slow intervals. Steam will
then be admitted first to say the right hand working chamber by way of its raised
valve and partly expel the water in said chamber while the left hand working
chamber is filled nearly to the top but with a cushion of air at that place from the
snifting valve as stated. It will be understood that the air will instantly rise to the
top of the water, as they enter the chamber. This compressed air acting on the
underside of the left hand piston, assisted by the steam pressure acting on the
superior area of underside of its upper valve overcomes the resistance of the steam
pressure in the upper part of the right hand chamber and by reason of the port or
:

page_text: But
passage leading thence to the top of left hand piston will overcome the steam
pressure there. The left hand valve will thus open and admit steam to the left
chamber and commence to depress and discharge the water from the same.
the steam will simultaneously rise through the small passage to the top of the right
hand piston depress it and its valves and thus close the latter. The steam enclosed
in the right hand chamber will not commence to expand until it falls to the
pressure in the rising main whereupon the injection water will enter said chamber
and by condensing the steam form a vacuum therein so that the suction water rushes
into it through its suction valve together with a small quantity of air from the
snifting valve. The water will thus fill the right hand chamber but the air rising
to the surface is formed into a cushion by the compression of the water.
The
action described is then repeated with regard to this water filled chamber. As the
pressure in one working chamber keeps the piston down and the steam valves of
the other closed, the vacuum in the latter keeps the piston in the former up aud
the valves open so that the action is positive. Moreover the change of position of
valves is effected on the filling of the chambers and not on the emptying.
I may regulate the admission of the water or other liquid to be pumped by
means of a separate valve or other suitable arrangement in the suction.
Dated this 21st day of November 1891.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Water and other Liquids.
1, CUTHBERT BURNETT of South Hetton in the County of Durham 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:-
This invention relates to pistonless apparatus for raising water or other liquids
by the alternate admission of steam and of injection or condensing water into the
working chamber of the apparatus and refers more particularly to apparatus having
two or more working chambers. The improvements consist chiefly in the peculiar
construction and arrangement of the parts for the steam admission whereby the
operations of the steam admission valves are timed and controlled in such a manner
that the change of position of the valve is effected on the filling of the chambers
and not on the emptying. Another improvement consists in the means for supplying
the ejection water and another improvement consists in the mode and means for
supplying air to the working chambers. By these improvements and combined
arrangements a high or the highest possible degree of expansion of the steam in this
class of pump is attained or attainable thus effecting increased economy the appa-
ratus being also simple in construction and reliable in its action. The working
chambers may be made independently or as compartments in one casting. I shall
first describe the apparatus with two adjoining chambers each fitted with a suction
and a delivery valve and the necessary pipe connections.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical section and Figure 2 a side
view partly in section of such a pump. The upper end of each working chamber A
is provided with a steam inlet valve which may be either single or as in this case
shewn of the double beat form B. Connected to cach valve is a piston C working
in a cylinder D preferably directly above such valve, the whole being by preference
enclosed in one casing which also forms the steam chest into which the steam
admitted from a suitable orifice or port either through the top or as in this case
shown through the side by a stop valve F for regulating the supply of steam when
working and for stopping and starting the pump, for the latter purpose the two
valves B are connected as usual by a double armed lever G having ample clearance

page_text: at the ends so that the valves can act independently. On its weigh shaft is a
handle G for operating the lever G.
The steam chamber or equivalent passages are so arranged that a connection is
formed for instance by the ports HI H between the underside of each piston C and
the upper end of the corresponding working chamber A. There is also a commu-
nication for instance by the small ports D D between the underside of each
piston C and the upper side of the other piston. A regulating tap may be fitted to
each port D'.
For the air admission instead of using a separate air snifting valve for each
working chamber A as heretofore usual I provide one adjustable air snifting valve
at a convenient point of the apparatus between the suction valves K and the
ordinary foot valve. By this arrangement an equal air admission is secured to both
chambers A. But I may also, and as here shewn, accomplish this object by making
the suction valves K act as snifting valves and for this purpose providing a screw
plug I with passages leading to the seatings of the said valves, such passages
being covered and uncovered by the valves during their play or action each passage
being open when its valve is open and closed when its valve is closed. When using
this arrangement there is on this account no need for a foot valve though the latter
from other reasons may be employed. I thus do away with the usual snifting
valves (which sometimes get out of order) and provide instead an absolutely certain
action, and a simple means of regulating the admission of a minimum amount of air
viz. by the screw plug I.
The air admitted rises to the surface and forms a stratum between the water and
the steam and acts in the usual manner as a cushion below the steam valve to
receive the impact of the water when it rises into the working chamber the steam
when expelling the water acts upon this heated air stratum instead of upon the
water direct.
The injection arrangements are as follows. The pumps may or may not be fitted
with an air vessel but if so fitted I prefer to take the injection water from a point
immediately above the delivery outlet where the water is comparatively quiescent
for instance as shewn at L; the air vessel O is by preference as shewn contracted
at this place. By this arrangement I secure a more prompt injection than if the
water were taken from the ascending column in the rising main or from the space
immediately above the delivery valve. A non-return valve may in this construction
of pump be provided in the injection passage for the purpose of preventing distur-
bance of the injection water, as described with reference to the valve P in my
Patent Specification 6612 of 1887.
Figure 3 is a part sectional front view and Figure 4 a part sectional end view of
another modification but specially as regards the position of injection nozzle and
the construction of pump suction and delivery valves K and N which are fitted in
the covers and N' for easy removal or inspection. Moreover the covers and
valves as shown are made interchangeable and serve for either suction or delivery.
It will be noticed that the valves K and N and the covers K' and N are alike.
The water injection pipe L' is simply screwed into the upper part of an injection
chamber which also serves the purpose of an air vessel. This chamber O¹ is
situated beyond the delivery outlet and receives the delivery water direct and in
such manner that the injection action is prompt because the upper part of the
chamber O contains comparatively quiescent water.
Figure 5 is a part sectional front view, Figure 6 a part sectional end view and
Figure 7 a plan section on line A. B Figure 5 of another construction especially as
regards the pump valve part which is very similar to that of Figures 3 and 4
except that in this case the suction and delivery outlets are arranged vertically to
connect directly with the vertical suction and delivery pipes. The steam inlet is
shown from the top in this case. The injection takes place through the holes or
ferrules L without the pipe L' as in the previous example and hence a large pro-
portion if not the whole of the air previously admitted will return with the injection
water so that under certain conditions very little if any air will be admitted but

page_text: the construction is found to answer in practice. It will be noticed that also in this
case the injection water is taken from a comparatively quiescent part of the delivery
side of the pump above the delivery outlet.
This construction of pump is especially applicable for well sinking or other cases
where the pump is slung in a chain.
In these last two pump modifications the covers K' and N' may in large size
pumps if desired be fitted with small hand hole covers one opposite each valve
for giving ready access to the valve.
Figure 8 is a side elevation, Figure 9 a vertical section and Figure 10 a plan
section on line A. B. C. D. of a three chambered pump. Figure 11 is plan view
of the steam valve chamber. L is the injection nozzle. In this case as in all the
previously described forms the change of position of the steam valves is effected on
the completion of the filling of the working chambers and not on the emptying.
This construction like the preceding one is of special value for drawing from a
considerable depth where the time occupied in filling will be greater than the time
occupied in emptying. The three steam valves B are by preference single beat
but may also be double beat. Passages D¹ Figure 11 like the cross passages D
in the previously described two chamber pumps connect the part below each
piston C with the part above the next adjoining piston. The three chambers A
communicate by openings K² with the suction valves K and thence with the
suction chamber P. The three chambers A communicate each by its delivery
valve N with the chamber Q which is continued into the central chamber R leading
to the outlet to the rising main S. The pump valves with their covers are shewn
of the same interchangeable form as in the previous examples. The air admission
is in this case by preference effected by means of a screw plug below the suction
valves as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
The action of the aforesaid pumping apparatus is as follows referring especially
to Figures 1 to 7. Water having been admitted to the working chambers A. for
instance from a filling plug on one of them or on the air vessel, the steam stop
valve F is opened and the starting lever ( if fitted worked backwards and forwards
a few strokes at slow intervals. Steam will then be admitted first say to the right
hand chamber A by way of its raised valve B whereby the water in such chamber
will be partly expelled by the steam while the left hand chamber will be filled with
water nearly to the top an air cushion intervening between the water and the steam
valve such air being supplied from snifting valve or screw plug I as stated. This
cushion of compressed air acting on the underside of the left hand piston C
(assisted in the case of the double beat valves by the steam pressure acting on the
superior area of underside of its upper valve) overcomes the resistance of the
steam pressure in the upper part of the right hand chamber A and by reason of
the port D leading thence to the top of the left hand piston will overcome the
steam pressure there. (In the case of the single beat valve Figures 3 and 4
the said air pressure due to the rush of inflowing water is exerted on the underside
of the valve.) The left hand valve will thus open and admit steam to the left
chamber and commence to depress and discharge the water from the same.
the steam will simultaneously rise through the small port D' to the top of the right
hand piston, depress it and its valves (or valve) and thus close the latter. The
steam enclosed in the right hand chamber A will now commence to expand until
it falls to the pressure or head of the rising main, whereupon the injection water
will enter the said chamber and by condensing the steam form a vacuum therein so
that the suction water rushes with it through its suction valve K together with a
small quantity of air from the screw plug or snifting valve I. The water will
thus fill the right hand chamber A but the air rising to the surface is formed into
a cushion by the compression of the water. The action is then repeated with
regard to this water filled chamber.
But
As the pressure in one working chamber A keeps the piston of the other down
and the steam valve closed, the vacuum in the latter chamber assists in keeping the
piston in the former chamber up so that the action will be positive. Morcover

page_text: the change of position of the valves is effected on the filling of the chamber and
not on the emptying.
The action of the three chambered pump Figures 89 and 10 is similar to that
of the two chambered but the following should be noted.
In the case of my double chamber pump with free steam admission the action is
somewhat intermittent or irregular owing to the fact that the time required for
filling with water is longer than the time required for discharging but in the case
of my three chambered pump with free steam admission the action is continuous
(except during the short period of expansion of the steam in one chamber) because
two chambers out of the three are always being filled with water while the third
is discharging.
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:
First. In pistonless liquid raising apparatus with two or more working chambers
the application and use of a steam inlet valve for each chamber the said valves
being fitted with pistons working in cylinders closed at top and with ports or
passages whereby the change of position of the said valves takes place on the
filling of the chambers, substantially as described and shown.
Second. In pistonless liquid raising apparatus with two or more working
chambers the application and use of one adjustable air inlet for all chambers,.
substantially as described and shown.
Third. In pistonless liquid raising apparatus the application of a water injection
passage from a comparatively quiescent part of the delivery immediately above the
delivery outlet substantially as described and shown.
Fourth. The construction of double chamber pump shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,.
5, 6 and 7.
Fifth. The construction of triple chamber pump shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10.
Sixth. The construction and arrangement of pump valve box with interchangeable.
valves and covers as described and shown.
D
01st day of Santambor 1892
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents..