IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMP VALVES
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John French at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April 1877.
JOHN FRENCH, of Commercial Street East, in the County of Middlesex, Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMP VALVES."
My Invention relates to a novel construction of pump valves of india-rubber or
other like substance, the peculiar features of which Invention are the large opening
or area presented to the said valves for the fluid to pass through with a very slight
lift of the valve, while upon the application of undue force to the pump the
valve will open more widely than when working under ordinary circumstances,
so as to allow the water or other liquid to pass freely through the said valve.
In one form of my improved valve I use an india-rubber disc with a suitable
opening in the centre to allow the pump rod to pass freely through the same.
The
valve or disc is made in four or any other suitable number of divisions extending
from the centre nearly to its circumference or periphery; the said valve is fixed on
an ordinary grating with radial bars, whose upper surface is flat or level. A metallic
ring is placed on the top of the india-rubber valve or disc around its outer edge,
and fixed to the pump, bucket, or valve seat, with screw bolts or other suitablo
fastenings with the valve between the said grating and the ring; near the inner
edge of the said ring a hollow groove or channel is formed all round the valve, and
the divisions of the said disc may extend through the groove or channel which is
preferably formed as closely as possible to the inner edge of the said metallic ring.
The valve is Dade taper in transverse section, and thereby reduced in thickness
from this groove gradually to the centre of the valve, and will therefore lift freely,
opening from the centre in the direction of the exterior of the pump chamber, and
80 permit or ensure a free delivery of the fluid into the said pump chamber instead
of discharging it at right angles or nearly so to the interior surface of the pump; a
suitable guard to limit the opening or rising of the valve can be fixed on the outer
ring or on the pump rod.
In a modification of the said improved valve the groove or channel in the same
is formed at a suitable distance from the central opening for the pump rod, and the
valve is graduated in thickness from the said groove to the periphery or outer edge
of the disc, and placed on a concave or bowl-shaped.grating with radial bars; the
J1..מ

page_text: said disc is kept down in its place by a guard fitted on the pump rod, with the outer
edges projecting over the valve to prevent it rising beyond the required distance.
The crown of the concave valve is placed downwards, the outer edge of the said
valve being turned upward, so that the water in passing through the valve is turned
in the direction of the discharge pipe instead of being discharged against the surface
of the pump chamber.
My improved valve may also be constructed without any grating for the india-
rubber disc to rest upon. In this modification of my Invention I make the valve
with a conical central portion, its crown or apex being arranged toward the direction
in which the water is to be forced or drawn. From its centre or apex the said
valve is divided in radial lines extending to the base, which is in the form of a
flange, whereby the said valve is secured in place. With this form of my improved
valve, the water is as freely discharged into the centre of the pump chamber as with
the form of valves above described.