IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION, OF PUMPS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Spink Swift, of Peckham, in the County
of Surrey,, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION, OF PUMPS."
Sealed the 17th August 1866, and dated the 21st February 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Spink Swift at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st February 1866.
I, HENRY SPINK SWIFT, of Peckham, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman;
do hereby declare, the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPS," to be as follows:-
According to this Invention I employ a cylinder of suitable size, in which I
cause to rotate by steam or other power two or more screw propellers; if for
a vertical lift each propeller is to be attached to a separate shaft, and to be
placed vertically, one close above the other, each propeller being caused to
revolve in opposite directions by means of reversed gearing, thus acting as
right and left handed screws. By this method the tendency of the water to
follow the direction of the propeller is destroyed. When the water is required
to be lifted to any great height, or from any great depth, single screws may
be applied at certain distances, say, at intervals of about 32 feet, each screw
to be made to revolve in an opposite direction to the one below it, and if con-
venient to be worked separately by a small steam engine; by this plan it will
be found that water may be lifted to a greater height, and at not more than
half the expense of the motive power required by any other method.

page_text: This Invention would be found very effective for fire-engines, and for any
work when the ordinary pumps are liable to become choked, as this adapta-
tion would take up and deliver any extraneous solid matter, the proportions of
such matters not being greater than one-fourth the diameter of the cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Spink Swift in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st August 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
SPINK SWIFT, of Peckham, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Henry Spink Swift, Her special licence that I, the said
Henry Spink Swift, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as 1, the said Henry Spink Swift, 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 law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that 1, the said Henry Spink Swift, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their bands 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 Henry Spink Swift, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in pumps for raising water
from various depths, applicable to mines and other purposes. ] propose to
construct a cylinder of suitable size, which is to be evenly bored out to suit

page_text: the space to be occupied by two archimedean screws, and having a strong
bearing at the bottom end to support a solid centre shaft; the shaft to be
made to pass through the boss of a right-handed archimedean screw, the
screw to be attached to the shaft by a key or feather so that it may rest on
friction wheels fitted into the boss or centre of the bearing above described.
A hollow shaft is to be made to fit easy-tight and pass over the solid shaft,
and to be supported by the boss of the right-handed screw; the hollow shaft
to be made to pass easily through the boss of a left-handed screw, the screw
to be made to revolve with the hollow shaft by a feather, so that it; may yield
or lift up when revolving to allow any solid matter to pass that may be
delivered by the bottom or right-handed screw. At a suitable distance above
the screw working on the hollow shaft is to be placed a centre guide with a
slot, through which the hollow shaft is to be made to pass to keep the shafts
in proper position, at a suitable distance above this centre guide the hollow
shaft must be terminated. A pair of corresponding vertical cog wheels are to
be affixed with the teeth facing each other at a suitable distance apart, one to
pass over and be firmly attached to the termination of the hollow shaft, and
the other to pass over and be firmly attached to the solid shaft. A third and
corresponding cog. wheel to be placed on a horizontal shaft, and to be adjusted
to fit into and gear with the other two cog wheels, the shaft to be set in
suitable bearings for that purpose attached to the inner side of the cylinder,
and to be made to pass through the side of the cylinder; on to the end of
which shaft outside the cylinder is to be attached another wheel, either with
cogs to fit a larger driving wheel or to be worked with a driving band or
endless' chain, as may be most expedient, by which means when motion is
given to the horizontal wheel the two gearing cog wheels are caused to
revolve in opposite directions, thereby causing the shafts and screws thereto
attached to revolve in their respective directions right and left; or the driving
gear may be altogether above and free of the cylinder in suitable bearings and
standards. When water has only to be lifted from short depths, say, not more
than fifty feet, the shafts may be carried throughout the length of the cylinder,
and the working gear arranged at the top. When water is required to be
lifted in large quantities and from great depths I recommend. the use of a
third screw to be placed as follows:-At a suitable distance above the pair of
cog wheels a centre guide and bearing are to be made to pass over the solid
shaft, and to be firmly affixed to the inner side of the cylinder. A right-
handed screw similar to the bottom screw should be made to pass over the
solid shaft, and worked by a feather or key, and made to rest on friction
wheels fitted in the boss of the bearing, by which application the weight of

page_text: the superincumbent water is prevented from pressing on the working parts of
the pump. I recommend the archimedean screws to be made at a pitch of
not more than half the diameter of the screw, and the threads of the screws
to complete only half a circle each.
The annexed Drawing will serve sufficiently to illustrate the principle of
the Invention. It represents a vertical section of the apparatus, shewing the
cylinder, shafts, screws, and gearing.
a, a, is the cylinder containing the screws; b, the bottom bearing of the
solid shaft; c, the right-liand screw on solid shaft; d, the left-hand or hollow
shaft screw; e, the internal centre bearing; f, cog wheel on hollow shaft;
9, cog wheel on solid shaft; h, cog or bevil wheel driving the bevil wheels f
and g; h', the driving shaft from engine; j, j, multiplying cog gearing in
connection therewith.
By this Invention water or other liquids may be raised to any required
height or distance, and without limiting myself, to the precise detail and
arrangement of parts I have expressed and shewn, I claim the application of
the right and left handed screws without reference to the size and form of the
same, or to the pitch, or the manner of arranging the machinery, or to the
power to be used for driving the same for the purpose of raising water or
other liquids, substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Spink Swift, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
HENRY SPINK SWIFT. (Ls.)