IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Holman, of Lawrence Pountney Lane, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS AND
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES."
Sealed the 7th February 1879, and dated the 10th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Holman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August 1878.
STEPHEN HOLMAN, of Lawrence Pountney Lane, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM PUMPS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER MOTIVE-POWER
ENGINES."
My Invention relates chiefly to steam pumps to be used for feeding boilers and
for other purposes, but it is also partly applicable to other steain or motive-power.
engines.
One feature of the Invention consists in operating the steam distributing valve
of a steam pump by means of the motive steam itself, the resistance being partially
removed by reducing the pressure within the cylinder by the condensation or exhaust
of the motive fluid.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I employ a double-headed piston, the
two piston heads being connected together, and I form in the cylinder two outlet
ports, which are covered and uncovered alternately by the two respective heads of
the piston.
The steam distributing valve which I prefer to employ is a piston valve, and I
form steam passages through the same, so that the steam shall have access around
the middle, and thence to both ends of the valve, thus preventing all friction caused
by pressure of steam on the exterior surface of the valve.

page_text: The valve chest in which this valve works is formed with ports leading into the
cylinder, of considerably greater area than the steam inlet ports, and the two steam
outlet or exhaust ports from the cylinder are also of considerably greater area than
any of the steam inlet ports. The said steam outlet or exhaust ports from the
cylinder open into the water inlet pipe or passage of the pump, and as each of the
pistons uncovers its respective exhaust port the steam is condensed, and the pressure
on the corresponding side of the steam distributing valve is suddenly reduced,
thereby enabling the steam at the opposite side of the steam distributing valve to
impel it to the other end of the valve chest, and thus close the inlet port which has
been opened, and open the other for the admission of steam to the other piston,
and so on in succession.
A cone or projection may be fitted at each end of the valve chest for the purpose
of restricting the orifice of the valve as it approaches each end of its stroke.
In some cases, as for example, when the pump is used as an injector for feeding
boilers, the pistons and their rods are made hollow for the passage of the water
which is admitted into their interior through perforations in the sides of a neck
connecting the two pistons' heads, the ends of the hollow piston rods being in this
case fitted with suitable valves.
In order to relieve boiler feeding pumps either of my improved construction, as
herein-before described, or of other constructions, I employ in combination with the
pump a suitable back pressure valve, and a steam chamber in conjunction there-
with, so that by the introduction of a jet of steam directly into the said chamber,
in such a manner that it shall be caused to act directly on the fluid set in motion
by the pump, a considerable portion of the duty will be performed by the said jet,
and a corresponding degree of pressure removed from the pump, thus contributing
materially to the durability of the pump details, and augmenting the power of the
pump.
When the pump is not used directly for feeding boilers a single piston of sufficient
length may be employed, and the steam may be exhausted into the atmosphere or
into a condenser, or into an additional cylinder, by which means a simple compound
engine may be produced, the two exhaust ports of the first cylinder being connected
respectively with the two inlet ports at opposite ends of the second cylinder.
When this arrangement is adopted I may employ a double-heading piston, the
two piston heads being fitted with valves opening towards the exhaust, so that a
vacuum may be produced by means of an air pump or automatic condenser.
With the view of ensuring a uniform opening of the exhaust ports at all speeds a
fly wheel may be used, to which one of the piston rods may be connected.
Another part of the Invention consists of a quadruple-acting pump, which may
be employed in combination with the apparatus herein-before described when used
as a steam engine, or with any other suitable motive-power engine.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I employ a divided or double cylinder,
and two pistons mounted on one and the same piston rod, and arranged by means.
of suitable passages in connection with two sets of valves, such as are used in
double-acting pumps working with a single piston. By this means I obtain a
quadruple action, as at every stroke each of the two pistons draws through one
valve and discharges through another, in lieu of a single piston only drawing and
discharging at each stroke,

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Stephen Holman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
February 1879.
STEPHEN HOLMAN, of Lawrence Pountney Lane, in the City of London.
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER MOTIVE-POWER
ENGINES."
:
My said Invention relates chiefly to steam pumps to be used for feeding boilers
and for other purposes, but it is also partly applicable to other steam or motive-
power engines.
One part of the said Invention relates to operating the steam distributing valve
of a steam pump by means of the motive steain itself, the resistance being partially
removed by reducing the pressure within the cylinder by the exhaust or conden
sation of the motive fluid.
In carrying out this part of my said Invention I employ a double-headed piston,
the two piston heads being connected together, and I form in the cylinder two
outlet ports, which are covered and uncovered alternately by the two respective
heads of the piston.
The steam distributing valve which I prefer to employ is a piston valve, and I
form steam passages through the same so that the steam shall have access around
the middle, and thence to both ends of the valve, thus preventing all friction caused
by pressure of steam on the exterior surface of the valve.
The valve chest in which this valve works is formed with ports leading into the
cylinder of considerably greater area than the steam inlet ports, and the two steam
outlet or exhaust ports from the cylinder are also of considerably greater area than
any of the steam inlet ports. The said steam outlet or exhaust ports from the
cylinder open into the water inlet pipe or passage of the pump, and as each of the
piston heads uncovers its respective exhaust port the steam is condensed, and
the pressure on the corresponding end of the steam distributing valve is suddenly
reduced, thereby enabling the steam at the opposite end of the steam distributing
valve to impel it to that end of the valve chest at which the pressure has been
reduced, and thus close the inlet port which has been open, and open the other for
the admission of steam to the other piston head, and so on in succession.
A cone or projection may be fitted at each end of the valve chest for the purpose
of restricting the orifice of the valve as it approaches each end of the stroke.
In some cases, as for example, when the pump is used as an injector for feeding
boilers, the pistons and their rods are made hollow for the passage of the water
which is admitted into their interior through perforations in the sides of a neck
connecting the two piston heads, the ends of the hollow piston rods being in this
case fitted with suitable valves.
In order to relieve boiler feeding pumps either of my improved construction, as
herein-before described, or of other constructions, I employ in combination with the
pump a suitable back pressure valve, and a steam chamber in conjunction there-
with, so that by the introduction of a jet of steam into the said chamber in such a
manner that it shall be caused, to act directly on the fluid set in motion by the
pump, a considerable portion of the duty will be performed by the said jet, and a
corresponding degree of pressure removed from the pump, thus contributing
materially to the durability of the pump details, and augmenting the power of the
pump.
When desired a single piston of sufficient length may be employed, and the steam
may be exhausted into the atmosphere, or into a condenser, or into an additional
cylinder, by which latter means a simple compound engine may be produced, the

page_text: .
two exhaust ports of the first cylinder being connected respectively with the two
inlet ports at opposite ends of the second cylinder.
When this arrangement is adopted the two piston heads of the double-headed
piston may be fitted with valves opening towards the exhaust, so that the produc-
tion of the vacuum within the cylinder may be accelerated and continued by means
of an air pump or automatic condenser.
With the view of ensuring a uniform opening of the exhaust ports at all speeds
a fly wheel may be used, to which one of the piston rods may be connected.
Another part of the said Invention consists of a quadruple acting pump, which
may be employed in combination with the apparatus herein-before described when
used as a steam engine, or with any other suitable motive-power engine.
In carrying out this part of my said of my said Invention I employ a divided or
double cylinder, and two pistons mounted on one and the same piston rod, and arranged
by means of suitable passages in connection with two sets of valves, such as are
used in double-acting pumps working with a single piston. By this means I obtain
a quadruple action, as at every stroke each of the two pistons draws through one
valve, and discharges through another, in lieu of a single piston only drawing and
discharging at each stroke.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the accompanying Drawings represents a sectional elevation
of a steam pump constructed according to my said Invention, and adapted more
particularly for feeding steam boilers.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section, and Figure 3 a transverse section of the same,
both corresponding to Figure 1.
: Figure 4 represents a vertical section of an auxiliary apparatus intended for sup-
plementing the action of a fixed pump.
Figure 5 (Sheet 2) represents a side elevation, partly in section, of a steam
pumping engine, constructed and arranged according to another modification of my
said Invention.
Figure 6 is a half plan and half horizontal section corresponding to a portion of
Figure 5, and illustrating a quadruple acting pump constructed according to my
said Invention; and Figure 7 is an end sectional elevation of the same."
Figure 8 represents a plan, partly in section, of a steam pumping engine con-
structed according to a further modification of my said Invention; and Figure 9 is
a sectional detail of a portion of the same.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, A is the steam cylinder in which is fitted a
double-headed piston B, B', the two piston heads B, B¹, being connected together
by a neck C. In this cylinder I form two outlet ports D, D', which are covered
and uncovered alternately by the two respective heads B, B1, of the piston, one of
the ports D, D¹, being always open for the exhaust or condensation of the steam.
The supply of steam to the cylinder is regulated by a distributing valve E, which
is made hollow, forming steam passages a, a, and contains within it a subsidiary
valve F, the sides of the main valve E having small inlet ports b, b¹, for the admis-
sion of steam to the said passages. The steam has thus access to both ends of the
valve, and also round the middle at c, thereby preventing all friction caused by
pressure of steam on the external surface of the valve. The steam thus admitted
to the valve chest G is conducted alternately to each end of the cylinder through
ports d, d, which are of considerable greater area than the ports b, b', the two
steam outlet or exhaust ports D, D', being also of greater area than the latter.
These steam outlet or exhaust ports open into the suction passages H, H', of the
pump, and as each of the piston heads B, B', uncovers in its turn its respective
exhaust port D or D¹ the steam is condensed in the water drawn by the pump.

page_text: The rapid exhaust or condensation of steam has the effect of causing a reduction
of pressure on the corresponding end of the piston valve E and the subsidiary
valvo F; the latter then immediately moves in that direction (being impelled by
the superior pressure of the steam on its opposite end), and closes the passage a or
al, as the case may be, in the valve E. The steam then passes along the open
passage of the valve E to its extremity, and acts between the corresponding ends of
the valves and of the steam chest G, thus causing the main valve E to move also
in the same direction as that in which the subsidiary valve had previously moved,
and closes the corresponding inlet port d or d', as the case may be, and opens the
other to admit steam to the opposite end of the cylinder to act upon the other
piston head, and so on in succession.
Cones or projections e, e¹, are fitted one in each cover of the valve chest G for the.
purpose of restricting the size of the passages a, a', of the main valve E as it
approaches each end of its stroke.
When the pump is used as an injector for feeding boilers the piston heads B, B',
and their neck C and rods or plungers f, f', may be made hollow, as shewn in
Figure 2, for the passage of the water which is admitted at A', and passes into their
interior through perforations in the neck C. The ends of the rods or plungers are
in this case fitted with suction or inlet valves g, g¹, which open and close in their
turn automatically for the admission of water to the pump cylinders I, I, the water
being forced therefrom alternately through outlet valves K, K¹, having rubber
springs 3 (Figure 1) along passages L, L, to the outlet M.
It will be obvious that by closing both valves g, g¹, the water drawn through the
inlet A¹ will be conducted through passages H, H', to suction valves N, N¹, whence.
the water is admitted into the pump cylinders I, I', and is forced therefrom through
valves. K, K', as before described.
It will also be evident that water may be admitted to the cylinders I, I¹, both
through the valves g, gl and N, N', simultaneously if desired.
In order to supplement the action or power of a pump when used for feeding
boilers I employ the auxiliary apparatus illustrated in Figure 4.
This apparatus consists of a chamber surrounding a pipe i, in which is fitted a
back pressure valve k. Steam is admitted by a pipe to the chamber h, and
impinges upon the water (conducted by the pipe i) as it issues at m after having lifted
the valve k. The annular jet of steam thus acts upon the water, and accelerates its
passage into the boiler, the water and steam together being delivered through the
pipe n.
A cone valve o is provided to admit water from the boiler to the pipe i, in order
to charge the apparatus at pleasure, the water being conducted through the passage p
and converging apertures q into the said pipe.
When the engine is used for general purposes of pumping the steam may be
exhausted into the atmosphere from a single exhaust port P (Figure 5, Sheet 2), or
into a condenser Q through a pipe R (in the saine Figure); or the steam may be
exhausted into a second cylinder S (Figure 8), by which latter means a simple
compound engine may be produced, the steam from the divided exhaust port P₁ of
the cylinder A being conducted to two inlet ports r, r, through the medium of a
valve T similar in construction and operation to the valve E of the cylinder A.
When desired the piston heads may be fitted with valves 8, 81, (see detail,
Figure 9), either connected together or otherwise, each being kept open to the
exhaust by the pressure of steam when admitted to the opposite end of the cylinder,
the object of such valves being to ensure the complete exhaustion of the steam from
the cylinders, and to maintain a constant vacuum on the exhaust side of the piston
in the cylinder S-when the steam is exhausted thence either into the atmosphere,
or through a pipe R into an automatic condenser Q, or into any other suitable
.condenser.
A fly wheol may be employed, as shewn at V, Figures 5 and 8, in order to ensure

page_text: '
'
(
a uniform opening of the exhaust ports at each end of the stroke under all conditions
of working.
Another part of my said Invention relates to a quadruple acting pump, which is
illustrated in Figures 5, 6, and 7 (Sheet 2).
'
According to this arrangement I employ a divided or double pump cylinder in
the two portions V, VI, of which work two pistons W, W₁, mounted on one and the
same piston rod t, and arranged respectively by means of passages u, u', in connec-
tion with two sets of suction and delivery valves, one set on each side of the pump,
one suction valve however marked v, and one delivery valve marked w only being
shewn in my Drawings.
The pump operates in the following manner :-When the pistons are moving in
the direction of the arrow x the water is admitted through the suction valve v into
the cylinder V, and simultaneously through the passage u into the cylinder V¹, as
shewn by arrows y, y', and at the same time the water previously drawn in through
the other suction valve at the opposite ends of the cylinders V, V', will be expelled
therefrom through passages indicated by arrows 2, 2, and a delivery valve on the
opposite side of the pump, and thence through the outlet 2.
It will be obvious that on the return stroke of the piston the converse operation
will be performed, the suction valve v will be closed, and the water will be forced
from the cylinders V, VI, through the delivery valve w, and water will be admitted
to the opposite sides of the pistons through the passages indicated by the arrows
z, z. By this means I obtain a quadruple action by rendering two pistons double
acting, and at the same time employing only the same number of valves as are
ordinarily used for a double-acting pump.
It will be obvious that by arranging the delivery valves separate from the suction
valves in suitable positions in the respective passages facility will be afforded for
obtaining access to each valve separately without interfering with the others.
It should be understood that although I have assumed in the examples herein-
before given of the methods of carrying out my said Invention that the engine is
actuated by steam any other suitable motive fluid may be employed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. In a simple or compound steam pump or other motive-power engine, in
which the distributing valve is operated by the motive fluid itself, the employment
of the peculiar distributing valve having restricted inlet ports in combination with
enlarged induction ports leading therefrom to the cylinder, and a piston serving
also to control the exhaust or eduction port or ports of the cylinder, the whole
being arranged in such a manner that by the exhaust or eduction port or ports
being uncovered by the piston in its motion, and the rapid exhaust or condensation
of the steam being thereby effected, the pressure is removed from one end of the
distributing valve, and the pressure at the opposite end is thus rendered available
to move the said valve in the direction required for the reverse stroke of the piston,
substantially as herein-before described.
Second. In a pumping engine constructed in the manner herein set forth, forming
the engine piston and its rods hollow for the passage of the water, the same being
admitted into their interior through perforations, and its discharge being regulated
by suction valves fitted to the said rods, which serve as pump plungers, substantially
as herein-before described.
Third. The employment in combination with two sets of suction and delivery
valves of a divided or double cylinder and two pistons, the two portions of the
cylinder and the pistons being in the same axial line, for the purpose of obtaining a
quadruple action of the pump, substantially as herein-before described.

page_text: Fourth. The employment in combination with a feed pump of a steam jet or
injector for the purpose of augmenting the power of the pump, substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Holman, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, the Eighth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-nine.
STEPHEN HOLMAN. (L.S.)