Improvements in Air and Vacuum Pumps.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1890-Accepted, 13th Sept., 1890
Improvements in Air and Vacuum Pumps.
We, ANNIBAL LÉGÉ, CHARLES AUGUSTE REMANE and ANDREW THEAKER JOB,
trading as A. LEGE & Co. at 31 Kirby Street Hatton Garden in the County of
Middlesex, Scientific Instrument Makers do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to a novel construction of air pump by the use of which we
are readily enabled to create a much higher degree of vacuum or pressure in any
given chamber or receptacle than by those pumps usually employed for this purpose.
It consists essentially in the use of a plunger arranged to work within a cylinder or
chamber having a larger sectional area than that of the plunger, and filled or partly
filled with a fluid of high specific gravity, such as sulphuric acid or mercury or any
other similar fluid.
The upper portion of this cylinder or chamber is furnished with a suitable gland or
cylindrical guide through which the plunger works.
Communication is established between the upper portion of the enlarged cylinder
and the air chamber or receptacle in which the compression or exhaustion is to be
effected, by means of a suitable stop cock or valve arranged in connection with one or
more levers and rods so as to be opened and closed by the upward or downward
stroke of the plunger.
Near the upper portion of the plunger is a small passage or port closed by a valve
of corresponding diameter and through which the air contained within the cylinder is
driven out at each downward stroke of the plunger; this valve may be closed by
means of a spring, weight, or otherwise.
When it is intended to use the pump for the purpose of compressing air, a special
inlet valve is fitted on the cover or upper portion of the cylinder, and the small valve
which closes the port in the plunger reversed.
Or we may so construct our improved pump as to be capable of compressing or
exhausting air as desired.
To do this we provide the port opening in the ram with two valves and furnish the
inlet valve on the cylinder cover with a screw or stop in order that the same may be
closed when desired.
Our pump may also be utilized for the purpose of refrigeration or ice making in
combination with any of the ordinary appliances used therefore.
In this case we charge the cylinder with sulphuric acid in lieu of mercury; the
acid serving for the purpose to extract any moisture which may be contained in the
air as it passes through the pump.
We also provide the plunger with an agitator preferably in the form of a fan or
screw, or other similar contrivance for the purpose of stirring the acid during the
working of the pump.
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of Ontahan 1880

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Air and Vacuum Pumps.
We, ANNIBAL LÉGÉ, CHARLES AUGUSTÉ REMANÉ and ANDREW THEAKER JOB,
trading as A. LEGE & Co. at 31 Kirby Street Hatton. Garden in the County of
Middlesex, Scientific Instrument Makers 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:-
Our invention relates to a novel construction of air pump, by the use of which we
are readily enabled to create a much higher degree of vacuum or pressure in any
given chamber or receptacle than by those pumps usually employed for this purpose.
It consists essentially in the use of one or more concentric plungers arranged to
work within a cylinder or chamber having a larger sectional area than that of the 1
plungers, and filled or partially filled with a fluid of high specific gravity, such as
sulphuric acid, mercury or other similar fluid; or we may use two liquids of different
specific gravity.
In order that our invention may be the better understood we have hereunto annexed
the accompanying sheet of drawings upon which:
Fig. 1. represents a vertical section through a pump embodying our invention,
Fig. 2. being a side elevation of same.
Fig. 3. a plan as seen from above.
Fig. 4. shews in detail the construction of the valves.
Fig. 5. Illustrates the arrangements and method of operating the fan for agitating
the liquid.
A. indicates the chamber or cylinder.
B. the gland.
C. inner or high pressure plunger.
c. concentric plungers.
D. inlet valve.
E. outlet or delivery valve.
F. float attached to lower end of valve stem.
G. check valve.
H. lever or handle.
I. pin for connecting same to plunger.
K. the agitator.
L. spiral or twisted spindle.
M. nut secured in lower end of plunger.
1
2
The upper portion of the cylinder or chamber A is furnished with a suitable gland
or cylindrical guide B, extending to within a short distance of the bottom of the
cylinder or chamber A within which the plunger or plungers C work. Communication
is established between the upper portion of the enlarged cylinder or chamber A, and
the receptacle in which the compression or exhaustion is to be effected by means of
suitable stopcocks or valves D, E, arranged to be opened and closed automatically, by 4
the upward or downward stroke of the plunger C, or by suitable levers and rods
connected to the plunger and arranged to operate the valves.
any
In order to ensure the closing of the valves D. E, and prevent the escape of
liquid contained within the cylinder A we provide each passage with a check valve G
arranged so as to be closed from the interior of the cylinder A by means of a 4
suitable float F attached thereto.
For obtaining high pressures we arrange one or more concentric plungers, C, to
work within the outer or main plunger the latter being disconnected and secured by
means of a cotter-pin, to the gland or guide B, when it is required to work the inner
plunger C; or we may provide the upper portion of the plunger C with a small 5
passage or port to be closed by a valve of corresponding diameter, and through which
the air contained within the cylinder is driven out at each downward stroke of the
plunger C; this valve may be closed by means of a spring, weight or otherwise.

page_text: In this case when it is intended to use the pump for the purpose of compressing
air, a special inlet valve is fitted on the cover or upper portion of the cylinder, and
the small valve which closes the port in the plunger reversed. Or we may so con-
struct our improved pump as to be capable of compressing or exhausting air as
desired, by providing the port opening in the ram, with two valves; and furnishing
the inlet valve on the cylinder cover with a screw or stop in order that the same may
be closed when desired. Our pump may also be utilized for the purpose of refrigera-
tion or ice-making, in combination with any of the ordinary appliances used therefore.
In this case we partially charge the cylinder A with mercury filling up with sulphuric
acid; the acid serving to extract any moisture which may be contained in the air as
it passes through the pump.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare, that what we
claim is a
1. In air and vacuum pumps, the means for obtaining the required pressure or
rarification of the air or gas, by the displacement of a heavier liquid, substantially as
described and set forth in the accompanying drawings.
2. In air and vacuum pumps the use of a fan or its equivalent for causing the liquid
contained within the pump to be agitated at each stroke of the pump, substantially as
described and set forth in the accompany drawings.
3. In air and vacuum pumps the combined use of two liquids the one having a
higher specific gravity than the other; substantially as described and set forth in the
accompaning drawings.
4. In air and vacuum pumps the construction and use of floats to the inlet and
outlet valves, substantially as and for the purposes described and set forth.
5. In air and vacuum pumps, the construction combination, and arrangement of the
various parts substantially as and for the purposes described and set forth in the
accompanying drawings.