Improve- MENTS IN PUMPS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Holmes, of Gritton Terrace, Victoria
Park, in the, County. of Middlesex, for the Invention of “Improve-
MENTS IN PUMPS."
Sealed the 3rd February 1871, and dated the 23rd August 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Holmes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd August 1870.
I, FREDERICK HOLMES, of Gritton Terrace, Victoria Park, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS," to be as follows:-
My, Invention relates, firstly, to the construction of a double action
pump, and secondly, to the construction of a quadruple action pump.
In constructing a double action pump I employ a pump barrel
provided with a plunger, and having two longitudinal external channels.
One of these channels (No. 1) is in communication at its lower end with
the suction pipe, and at its upper end with the upper chamber of the

page_text: pump barrel. The other channel (No. 2) is in communication at its
lower end with the lower chamber of the pump barrel, and at its upper
end with the delivery pipe. The upper chamber is in communication with
the delivery pipe, and the lower chamber with the suction pipe. Valves
are fitted between the suction pipe and channel No. 1, between the
suction pipe and the lower chamber, between the lower chamber
and channel No. 2, and between the upper chamber and the delivery
pipe.
The action is as follows:-In the up stroke of the plunger water
enters the lower chamber from the suction pipe, while the water con-
tained in the upper chamber is forced into the delivery pipe. In the
down stroke the water in the lower chamber is forced through channel
No. 2 to the delivery pipe, while water is drawn from the suction pipe
through channel No. 1 into the upper chamber.
In constructing a quadruple action pump I adopt substantially the
arrangement just described, but I divide the pump barrel transversely
by a stuffing box into two barrels, each being provided with a plunger,
the two plungers being on the same rod, and I make channel No. 1
communicate with the upper chamber of each barrel, and channel No. 2
communicate with the lower chamber of each barrel. The communi-
cation between the suction pipe and the lower chamber of the upper
barrel is formed by the lower part of channel No. 2. It will be seen
that with my quadruple action pump I get 24 inches stroke from a six
inch stroke of the pump rod.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick Holmes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th February 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
HOLMES, of Saint James's Place, (previously called Gritton Terrace,)
Victoria Park, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Frederick Holmes, Her special licence that I,

page_text: the said Frederick Holmes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Frederick Holmes, my executors, 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 Frederick Holmes, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the 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 immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Holmes, 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 following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to certain novel arrangements of the parts of
pumps with the view of obtaining economy in construction and efficiency
and simplicity in working. These arrangements are clearly shown in
the accompanying Drawings, which I now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 a vertical section of a quadruple
action pump, or more strictly speaking of a pump having the capability
or working power of two double action pumps. In this pump the barrel
is divided transversely by a stuffing box c into two barrels a, b. Each
of these barrels is provided with a plunger d and e, the two plungers
being on the same rod f, to which a reciprocating movement is imparted
in any ordinary manner. The pump is formed with two longitudinal
external channels g, h. The channel g is in communication with the
upper chamber of each of the barrels a, b, and also with the suction
pipe and with the delivery pipe k. The other channel 7 is in com-
munication with the lower chamber of each of the barrels a, b, and also
with the delivery pipe k, and likewise communicates with the suction
pipe through the lower chamber of the barrel b. Valves marked l, m, n,o;.
are placed, as shown, respectively between the channel 9 and the suction,
pipe, between this channel and the delivery pipe, between the channel h
g

page_text: and the delivery pipe, and between the lower chamber of the barrel b
and the suction pipe. It is preferred that all these valves should be
fixed to their respective doors p, so that by simply loosening the nuts
the bolts may be thrown back and the valves taken out.
The action of this pump is as follows:-In the down stroke of the
two plungers the upper chambers of the two barrels a, b, become filled
with water drawn from the suction pipe through the channel g, while
the water previously drawn into the lower chamber of the barrels is
forced through the channel h and valve n to the delivery-k. In the up
stroke water is drawn into the lower chambers of the barrels, while that
previously drawn into the upper chambers is forced through the valve m
to the delivery k. With this pump I get 24 inches stroke with a six
inch stroke of the pump rod.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a double action pump in which only
one cylinder is employed; Figures 4 and 5 are sections through the
lines A, A, and B, B, respectively of Figure 3. The arrangement of
the valves and other parts being clearly shown in the Drawings it will
be sufficient to explain the action. In the down stroke of the plunger
the upper chamber of the barrel is filled with water drawn from the
suction pipe through the channel g, while that previously drawn into
the lower chamber is forced through the valve n to the delivery k. In
the up stroke water is drawn into the lower chamber through the
valve o, while that previously drawn into the upper chamber is forced
through the valve m to the delivery.
Figures 6 and 7 represent a quadruple action pump or a pump having 2
the capability of two double action pumps, the arrangement being a
modification of that shown in Figures 1 and 2, the main difference is
that the two plungers are not on the same rod; Figure 6 is a horizontal
section through the line C, C, and Figure 7 is a vertical section through
the centre of the two barrels a, b, and through one of the channels g. 3
This channel. g communicates, as seen in Figure 7, with the lower
chamber of the barrel a and with the upper chamber of the barrel b,
while the communications of the other channel h are the-reverse, that is'
to say, it communicates with the upper chamber of the barrel a and with
the lower chamber of the barrel b. The two channels are in com- 3
munication by separate valves with the suction pipe i and by separate
valves with the delivery k.
The action of this pump is as follows:-In the down stroke of the.

page_text: plunger d and up stroke of the plunger e the water previously drawn
into the lower chamber of the barrel a and into the upper chamber of
the barrel 6 is discharged into the channel-g, and thence to the delivery k,
while water is drawn from the suction pipe i into the channel h, and
thence into the upper chamber of the barrel a and lower chamber of
the barrel b. In the up stroke of the plunger d and down stroke of
the plunger e the water previously drawn into the upper chamber
of the barrel a and into the lower chamber of the barrel b is forced
into the channel h, and thence to the delivery, while water is drawn
from the suction pipe i into the channel g, and thence into the lower
chamber of the barrel a and upper chamber of the barrel b. In the
down stroke of the plunger d and up stroke of the plunger e the valve
at the bottom of the channel 9 closes, and that at the top of the
same opens, while in the reverse stroke the valve at the bottom of the
channel h closes and that at the top opens. This pump is particularly
adapted for ship's use when fitted with deck plate, and will draw
water from various parts of the vessel; it. is also a powerful, fire
engine. When desired either of the barrels a, b, may be put out of
communication with the channels g, h, and the other barrel be worked
separately and still throw a continuous stream of water.
Figure 8 is an elevation of a ship's portable fire engine, the internal
arrangement of which is the same as that shown in Figure 7. .
Figure 9 represents a horizontal pump constructed in an analogous
manner to the pump shown in Figure 3, but modified to adapt it to the
horizontal position. The valve chamber is shown in section. In the
forward stroke of the plunger d of this pump the water in front of the
plunger is forced through the valve m, and thence to the delivery pipe K,
while the barrel becomes filled behind the plunger through the valve o,
which communicates with the suction pipe i. In the return stroke the
water just drawn through the valve o is forced through the valve n, and
thence to the delivery pipe, while water is drawn from the suction pipe
through the valve / so as to fill the barrel behind the piston.
The pumps herein-before described may be fitted with an open head
where a force pump is not required, and doors may be placed for the
head valves so that they may be readily got at. These pumps are adapted.
for factories, breweries, and estates, and for fire and garden engines. The
channels herein-before explained and their valves may be placed in other¨¨
positions than those shown.

page_text: 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
several arrangements of pumps and their valves as herein-before described
and represented in the accompanying Drawings..
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Holmes, have hereunto
set my
hand and seal, this Third day of February, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-one.
FREDERICK HOLMES. (L.S.)