IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Peddie How, of Mark Lane, in the City of
London, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Peddie How
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th August 1856.
I, ANDREW PEDDIE How, of Mark Lane, in the City of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PUMPS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in pumps consists in constructing them as follows:-
A suction chamber, which serves as a foundation for the pumps, has formed
in it four apertures, one on each of its four sides. Two of these apertures,
which are opposite to each other, join two valve cocks, which are so constructed
as to act as stop valves, the valves of which are provided with stems which
are fitted into recesses formed in spindles, these spindles being raised or
lowered by means of hand wheels, according as it is desired either to allow the
valves to rise or to close them. The aforesaid cocks have two branches, the one
to be used as a suction branch for a fire enginé, for example, and the other as
a suction branch from the sea or from water situated in any place from which
it may be desirable to remove it. The suction chamber first mentioned has

page_text: fitted to a central aperture in its upper side an india-rubber or other valve for
cutting off the communication between the said chamber and the pump
chambers which are placed above it on either side of the central aperture.
Passages for water are formed from the lower suction chamber to certain
suction valves, through which the water passes, and then through other passages,
which conduct it to the pump chambers, and above the pistons therein. There
are also other passages which conduct the water from the lower suction chamber
to the pump chambers, and beneath the pistons therein. The delivery valves
have recesses formed in them, to allow the stems of the suction valves to rise
in them, and thus act as guides to them. The delivery valve box bas on it
branches to which may be attached the delivery pipe, or a fire hose, as may be
required. The cap of the valve box is also fitted with a recess, in which the
stem of the delivery valve rises, thus acting as a guide for both the delivery
and the suction valves. Lugs are cast on the delivery valve box, for taking
the standard which carries the beam for working the pumps, this beam being
connected by side rods to the piston rods.
By constructing pumps as before described, each pump is rendered double-
acting, and two double-acting pumps are formed so as to occupy but little
more room than a single-acting one of the ordinary construction. The suction
chamber may, moreover, be cast in one piece, as may also the pump chambers
and the suction and delivery passages. The valves may be examined with
great facility, it being only necessary for that purpose to unscrew the cap from
the valve box, when the valves are under immediate inspection, as they are
placed at the top. Only five valves are required, and consequently the cost of
material and workmanship is greatly reduced below the cost of the same in
ordinary pumps. The improved pumps may be used with great advantage in
fire engines, on account of the power they possess of throwing a large quantity
of water with great rapidity.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Andrew Peddie How in the Great Seal Patent Office on 3
the 18th February 1857.
I TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANDREW
PEDDIE How, of Mark Lane, in the City of London, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord a
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her.

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Andrew Peddie How, Her special licence that I, the said Andrew
Peddie How, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Andrew Peddie How, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Andrew Peddie How, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of tho said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Andrew Peddie How, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings annexed, that is
to say:-
My improvements in pumps consist in constructing them as follows:-A
suction chamber, which serves as a foundation for the pumps, has formed in it
four apertures, one on each of its four sides. Two of these apertures, which are
opposite to each other, join two valve cocks, which are so constructed as to act
as stop valves, the valves of which are furnished with stems which are fitted
into recesses formed in spindles, these spindles being raised or lowered by
means of hand wheels, according as it is desired either to allow the valves to
rise or to close them. The aforesaid cocks have two branches, the one to be
used as a suction branch for a fire engine, for example, and the other as a
suction branch from the sea or from water situated in any place from which
it may be desirable to remove it. The suction chamber first mentioned has
fitted to a central aperture in its upper side an india-rubber or other valve for
cutting off the communication between the said chamber and the pump
chambers which are placed above it on both sides of the central aperture.
Passages for water are formed from the lower suction chamber to certain
suction valves, through which the water passes, and then through other passages,
which conduct it to the pump chambers, and above the pistons therein. There
are also other passages which conduct the water from the lower suction chamber
to the pump.chambers, and beneath the pistons therein. The delivery valves

page_text: have recesses formed in them, to allow the stems of the suction valves to rise
in them, and thus act, as guides to them. The delivery valve box has on it
branches to which, may be attached the delivery pipe or a fire hose, as may be
required. The cap of the valve box is also fitted with a recess, in which the
stem of the delivery valve rises, thus acting as a guide for both the, delivery
and the suction valves. Lugs are cast on the delivery valve box, for taking
the standard which carries the beam for working the pumps, this beam being
connected by side rods to the piston rods.
I 1
By constructing pumps as before described, each pump is rendered double-
acting, and two double-acting pumps are formed so as to occupy but little
-more-room than a single-acting pump. of the ordinary construction: Tho
suction chamber may, moreover, be cast in one piece, as may-also- the pump
chambers and the suction and delivery passages. The valves may be examined
with great facility, it being only necessary for that purpose to unscrew the cap
from the valve box, when the valves are under. immediate inspection. Only
five valves are required, and consequently the cost of material and workman-
ship is greatly reduced below the cost of the same in ordinary pumps.. The
improved pumps may be used with great advantage in fire engines, on account
of the power they possess of throwing a large quantity of water with great
rapidity.
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed is a sectional elevation of
pumps and valvo boxes constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a
sectional plan of the same; Figure 3 shews in sectional elevation, and Figure 4
in sectional plan, modifications of the pumps and valve boxes shewn at Figures
1 and 2. The same letters indicate similar parts in all the Figures. A is a
cast-iron or brass suction chamber, serving also as a foundation for the pumps;
this chamber A bas four apertures; B, B, C, C, the two C, C, join; the valve
cocks D, which are so constructed as to act as stop valves, the wheels E, E,
being used for either, screwing the spindles F up, thereby allowing the stems
of the valves G to rise up in the recesses H cast-in the spindles F, or effectually
closing the valves G by reversing the wheels E, E, and so. lowering the spindle F
on to the stems of the valve G. The cocks D have branches. I and K, one
to be used as suction for fire engine, and the other as suction from the sea or
any other source from which liquid is to be drawn. L, L, are the pump
chambers, fitted with pistons M, M; N is the under suction chamber, fitted
with an india-rubber valve O, forming communication between the suction
chamber A and the pumps L, L; P is the passage for the water from the
suction chamber A to the upper suction valves Q, where- it flows through the
passages R & R', to the top of the pistons M, M ; S, S, are also passages from

page_text: the suction chamber A to the under side of the pistons M, M; T, T, are the
delivery valves, having recesses u formed in them, to allow the stems of the
suction valves Q, Q, to rise in them, thus acting as guides; V is the delivery
valve box, having branches W in it, to which may be attached the delivery
pipe or fire hose. The cap X of the valve box V is also provided with a
recess u, in which the stem of the delivery valve T rises, thus acting as a guide
for both the delivery and upper suction valves; Y, Y, are lugs cast on the
delivery valve box for carrying the standard that supports the lover Z¹ for
working the pumps. This lever is connected by side rods Z", Z", to the pump
pistons M, M. Handles, with sockets to fit the ends of the lever Z', are pro-
vided, which can be removed at pleasure, as more or less hands are required for
doing the work.
The same description applies to Figures 3 and 4, the only difference is in
the disposition of the valves, which, in Figure 3, are shewn placed at the bottom,
and at Figure 2 at the top, the working of the pumps being the same in both
cases.
The action of the pump and fire engine is as follows:-Either of the open-
ings B, B, or C, C, of the suction chamber A being opened, and the pumps
set to work, the down stroke of one of the pistons M causes the water to
flow through the india-rubber valve O into the passage P, which raises the
suction valve Q, and thence goes through the passage R to the top of the pump
piston M; at the same time the pump chamber under the piston being full of
water, delivery takes place through the passage S to the top of the upper suction
valve Q, which raises the delivery valve T, and forces the water out through
one of the delivery outlets W; at the same time the other pump piston ascends,
the pump chamber, being previously filled on the top of the piston by its down
stroke, delivery takes place through the passage R above the upper suction
valve Q, passes also through the delivery valve T, and from thence through one
of the outlets W. The action is thus continuous, each pump being double-
acting, and performing the same work that two separate double-acting pumps
could do, although only occupying the same space as one.
The simplicity in the construction and details of this pump render it very
advantageous; the suction chamber which forms the foundation for the pumps
being of only one casting. The pump chambers, suction and delivery passages
are also formed in one piece. The facility too with which the delivery and
suction valves may be examined is a great advantage, the cap only requires to
be unscrewed, and both delivery and suction valves can be taken out, as the
stems of the suction valves work in the recesses of the delivery valves. The
durability of the pump is shewn in the fact of there being so few valves of the

page_text: simplest construction, and consequently little liable to get out of repair, and
effecting a saving in the weight of material and cost of workmanship. For
vessels it is invaluable, on account of the immense body of water it is capable
of discharging, and of the small space it occupies.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the mechanical
arrangement of pumps, valves, and passages, herein-before described and repre-
sented in the Drawings hereunto annexed, wherein each pump is rendered
double acting.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Peddic How, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-seven.