Improvements in or relating to Portable Pumping Apparatus for Baths.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 12th July, 1890
Improvements in or relating to Portable Pumping Apparatus for
Baths.
I, DONALD NOBLE, of the Wheat Sheaf Hotel, High Street, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus for use in connection
with baths or trays that may be readily removed from one room or place to another,
as well as used with baths that are a fixture; and its object is to provide a light,
cheap, simple, effective, and portable single or double acting pumping apparatus
capable of being worked by the toes or heel (or both) of one foot or both feet of the
bather for raising the water from a bucket, receptacle, or other supply on to the
batlier.
According to this invention, within suitable framing or casing on which the bather
stands is or are mounted one or more, preferably two short cylinders or tubes (provided
with pistons) or collapsable bags or reservoirs (bellows like) of any suitable material,
shape, and size. To each piston rod or top of each collapsable reservoir is secured so
that it may bo detached therefrom if desired, a pedal or foot piece which is made to
project through the upper portion of the casing or framing on which the bather stands
so as to be capable of receiving a reciprocating motion from the toes or heel (or both)
of the foot of the bather through suitable shafts and levers or their equivalents con-
nected to the pistons or collapsable reservoir in any suitable manner. At or near the
bottom of each cylinder or collapsable reservoir is provided an orifice which is
made to act as an inlet and outlet for the water. Each orifice is connected by suitable
means with two vertical pipes or tubes fixed to the casing or framing, each of which
pipes is provided with two seats for the reception of ball valves. These pipes may be
connected at their upper and lower ends so as to communicate respectively with a
central outlet and inlet. To the central inlet and outlet may be respectively attached
a piece of flexible india rubber or other tubing armed when preferred at its free end
with a nozzle or rose, said roso being preferably armed around its outer edge with a
row or band of bristles, india rubber, or Egyptian loofahs. Between the seats of each
pair of ball valves may be fixed the pipes or other means for connecting the bottom
of each cylinder or reservoir with its respective vertical tube. It will readily be
understood that when preferred the above described fixed pipes may be dispensed
with and corresponding passages with valvo seats formed therein or cast in the
framing or casing.
The flexible tube provided with a nozzle may be placed in a bucket or other
receptacle containing hot or cold water and the other tube which is armed with a
rose may be held by the bather. When two cylinders or reservoirs are used, as
one pedal is being depressed by one of the bather's feet, the other pedal will rise;
at the same time water will be drawn out of the bucket through the lower ball valve
in one tube into the cylinder or reservoir (to which the rising pedal is attached)
by the vacuum formed therein, whilst the descending pedal is collapsing the reservoir
(or depressing the piston when a cylinder is used), closing the lower valve in the
other tube, opening the upper valve, and forcing any water already in the reservoir
up through the vertical tube and upper flexible tube armed with the rose on to the
bather.
When the bathing operation is completed the bath or tray may be emptied whilst
the bather is drying himself by reversing the position of the flexible tubes agmed
with the nozzle and rose respectively, and by working the pedals.

page_text: When the above described double or single acting pumping apparatus is combined
with a collapsable india rubber bath, the latter may be rolled up, and bath and
pumping apparatus packed into small compass for travelling purposes.
Dated the Twenty-fourth day of July 1889.
DONALD NOBLE.
By W. Fairburn-Hart,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Portable Pumping Apparatus for
Baths.
I, DONALD NOBLE, of the Old Wheat Sheaf Hotel, High Street, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus for use in connection
with baths or trays that may be readily removed from one room or place to another,
as well as used with baths that are a fixture. The invention is also applicable for
washing or bathing horses, dogs, animals, carriages, windows, watering gardens, and
other similar purposes where water is required to be pumped or raised prior to being
ejected on to the object or thing operated upon. And its object is to provide a
light, cheap,simple, effective, and portable single or double acting pumping apparatus
capable of being worked by the heels (or toes or both) of one foot or both feet of
the operator for raising the water from a bucket, receptacle, or other supply on to
the bather or operator, or other object or thing operated upon, and at the same time
permitting of the operator having the free use of both hands (when working the
apparatus with the feet) for washing purposes or for directing or controlling the
supply of water.
In the accompanying drawings: :-
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a part sectional elevation and plan of pumping
apparatus constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 3. an elevation, Fig. 4 a plan looking at the top, Fig. 5 a sectional elevation,
Fig. 6 a sectional plan on line x x fig. 5, and Fig. 7 a plan looking at the bottom,
all showing pumping apparatus constructed according to this invention combined with
a receptacle for containing the water to be raised or ejected.
Fig. 8. a sectional elevation showing a method of arranging the ball valves of the
pumping apparatus.
Figs. 9 and 9 are sectional elevations of water receptacle and a single and a double
actiug pumping apparatus combined.
Figs. 10 to 16 are respectively sectional or other elovations, and a plan of arma-
tures for the outlet end of the water conducting or directing tubes.
Like parts in all the views are marked with the same letters of reference.
A is a raised platform, framing, or casing (hereafter termed the platform), on which
the operator stands, of any suitable size, height, and shape, preferably, though not
necessarily so, constructed of light metal such as sheet iron, brass, zinc, or the like, or
of metal and wood combined, of about one and a half or more inches in height.
The platform A may when preferred be fixed or attached to a bucket or other receptacle
(for receiving the water) containing the pumping apparatus as shown at Figs. 3 to 9^,
or the pumping apparatus may be mounted directly upon the upper surface of the
platform A, or enclosed within the platform A as shown at Figs. 1 and 2. When the
pumping apparatus is mounted upon or within the platform, and in order to reduce
the width of the same as well as to render it more portable for travelling purposes the
toe pieces aa (shown at Fig. 2.) may be rigidly fixed to the platform or hinged or
otherwise connected to it at so as to be capable (when the pedals D D' are
removed) of being folded on to its top. To the top of the platform may also be fixed
pieces of cork, wood, or other material at a² a² (attached thereto by cement, rivets,

page_text: screws, or other suitable means) on which the toes or fore-part of the operator's foot
or feet rest during the pumping operation.
The pumping apparatus I prefer to employ may consist of two vertical cylinders or
tubes B B (provided with water tight pistons 66') or collapsible bellows like bags or
reservoirs B2B mounted upon or within the platform A or within the water receptacle
such as C provided with or without a lid cand handle c'. At Figs. 1 and 2 are shown
two collapsible bags which may be made of any suitable material,such as india-rubber,
leather, or the like, and of any desired size and shape such as round, square, or polygon
and of about two or more inches in diameter or from side to side by about two or more
inches in height. But I do not limit myself to this or any other dimension herein given
as they may be varied as circumstances require. The upper end and lower end c³ of
cach collapsible bag may be armed with a piece of wood or other suitable material for
respectively receiving the attachments to be hereafter named, and attaching it to the
platform A. At Figs. 5 to 9 are shown two vertical tubes or cylinders, made of
metal or other suitable material, each provided with single or double pistons.
At Figs. 1 and 2 a reciprocating motion is imparted to the collapsible bags B2 B³
(for raising the water) from the heels of the operator's fect as he stands upon the
platform A through loose and removeable pedals or foot pieces D D', spindles E E
shafts F. mounted in suitable bearings ff, rocking lever G bifurcated at each end,
and shafts H H attached by bearings or blocks hh, h' h¹ to the tops of the respective
collapsible bags B² B'. But at Figs. 3 to 9 the required reciprocating motion is
imparted to the pistous bb' from the heels of the operator's feet as he stands upon the
platform A (attached to the water receptacle or bucket C) through fixed or removeable
pedals D D, spindles E E', shaft F mounted in bearings respectively formed in
or attached to the sides of and below the top of the platform A and to the undersido
of the bottom of the water receptacle C, rocking levers G G¹ mounted on shaft F and
connected at their respective ends to the spindles E E' and piston rods beb (which
are fixed or coupled or jointed at 665 to the under-surfaces of the pistons as shown)
that is, the ends of lever (+ are connected to spindles E E', and the ends of lever G
to the piston rods b² b³. When the shaft F is mounted in, and above the bottom of, a
water receptacle C such as shown at Figs. 9 and 9 it will be found necessary to carry
one end thereof in a watertight stuffing box or gland f, and also to provide
openings & 6s in the cylinders B B' below the under surface of each piston (as shown
at Fig. 9) or between the pistons (as shown at Fig. 94) to permit of the ends of the
lever G passing to the piston rods. The openings bib are arranged in their respective
cylinders beyond the outer portion or thickness of each piston when at its extreme
outward stroke to prevent any water entering into the water space (within each
cylinder) except through the orifice I or I', and also for the same purpose the rocking
lever Gay, when preferred, be arranged to work within an inverted trough or
shaped casing B, the top of which is shown by dotted lines at Figs. 9 and
will readily be understood on reference to the drawings that the inner surface bx of each
of the pistous b b acts as an end or boundary of the water space in that portion of the
cylinder in which the piston works, and according to the amount of stroke imparted
to it, by the means described will the size of the water compartment in each cylinder
be increased or diminished, that is to say, the shorter the stroke of the piston the nearer
it will be to the top (Fig. 9) or bottom (Fig. 9) of the cylinder, and consequently
there will be a smaller water space than when a longer stroke is imparted or provided
for. In order to ensure the pistons working evenly, projecting pieces or rings 6° bio
may be attached to the under surface of each piston in such a manner as to act as
guides or steadying pieces.
It
When the vertical cylinders B B or collapsible bags B₁ B are mounted directly
upon or within the platform A, the orifices or openings II (for the admission of
water) into each cylinder or reservoir may be arranged at or near its bottom as shown
at Figs. 1 and 2, but when it is preferred to fix the pumping apparatus within a water
receptacle or bucket, such as C, then it may be found advantageous to have it arranged
at the top of the cylinders as shown at Figs. 5 to 9. Each of the orifices I and I¹
is connected by a suitable tube i (preferably, though not necessarily so, made of

page_text: brass) with a chamber J divided by a vertical plate 3x into two compartments or
tubes (shown at Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 9) of a similar description to that described
in the specification of letter patent granted to me the 12th February 1889 No. 2449,
or separate tubes; each provided with an inlet and outlet may be cast in, or on,
or fixed to the cylinders as shown at Fig. 8. When a chamber J is employed it is
provided with a central inlet pipe and outlet pipe common to or communicating
with both of the compartments, jj. In each tube or compartment j j³ are provided
two valve seats i j and joj for the reception of the india-rubber or other suitable
ball valves and 710 7" and a piece of wire, perforated zinc, or other suitable.
material may be fixed in each tube or compartment at or about to prevent the
valves from rising too high. The communication between the-cylinders B B and
tubes or compartments jis made midway between each pair of valve seats as shown,
that is tube i is connected with tube or compartment j about midway between the
valves and, and tube about midway between the valves 10 and ju.
To the central inlet pipe may be attached a piece of flexible or other tubing j¹³
as shown at Figs. 1 and 2, or the pipe j2 may be prolonged and armed when required
with an ordinary nozzle or suction piece as shown at Fig. 9. Whilst to the outlet
pipe may be fixed a piece of flexible tubing ¹ (fig. 1) armed with an ordinary rose
or brush and rose combined as shown at Figs. 10 and 13; or one of the ends of the
flexible tube may be attached to one or inoro pieces of rigid tubes K of a suitable
size, shape and length placed side by side and soldered or otherwise fastened together
at figs. 14, 15 and 16 or mounted in a bamboo caue or handle : as shown at
Figs. 10 to 16 and armed when preferred with one or more nozzles, roses, brushes,
and jets. When the apparatus is used for bathing or washing the buman body,
or a dog or other animal the outlet end of the tube (flexible or rigid) may be
armed with a rose k around which may be mounted a row or outer edging of
bristles, india-rubber, flannel, Egyptian loofah, or other suitable material, so as
to permit of a constant supply of water being delivered on to the body or other
object operated upon within the row of bristles or other material whilst the latter
are employed for aiding in losening or rubbing or scouring off the dirt or other
impurities. But when the apparatus is used for carriage and window cleaning or
he like purposes then I prefer to arm the outlet end with a brush and rose
such as is shown at Figs. 10 and 11, or with a brush 2 rose and jet + as shown
at fig. 16. In this last described arrangement of brush, rose and jet it will be scen
on reference to the drawings that the flexible tube j¹5 is connected to a two way
tap of ordinary construction having one inlet and two outlets communicating
respectively with the brush and rose and jet through pipes K and K¹ in such a manner
that the supply of water may by the taps be readily cut off from either pipe by the
operator at pleasure. For watering gardens and the like purposes the outlet end of
tlio flexible tube jis may when preferred either be connected with a similar arrange-
ment of two pipes provided with a jet and round rose in place of brush and rose 1:³,
or it may be armed with two round roses los and 1 (placed at right angles to each
other) and a jet let as shown at figs. 14 and 15. In this arrangement three pipes K K' K²
may be soldered or otherwise fastened together and connected to a three way tap k³
having one inlet and three outlets one of which is only opened at a time.
The end of the inlet tube j's (or j³) armed when preferred with a nozzle or suction
piece may be placed in an ordinary bucket or a receptacle such as C containing
hot or cold water and when the pedal D is depressed (as shown at Fig. 1) by one of
the operator's feet, the other pedal D' will rise At the same time water will be
drawn out of the bucket or other receptacle such as C through the inlet tube j
(or 18) into compartment j (lower valve being then opened and upper valve jo
closed) and from thence into cylinder B or reservoir B³ (to which the rising pedal D
at Fig. 1 or descending pedal D at Figs. 3 to 9 is attached) by the vacuum formed
therein. Whilst the pedal D is descending for collapsing reservoir B at Fig. 1,
or raising piston b¹ at Figs. 5, 8 and 9, the lower valve 110 in tubo or compartment ji
will be closed; upper valve ju opened and any water already in the reservoir or
cylinder forced up through the vertical tube and outlet pipe 73 and Bexible tube"

page_text: and its armature or connections on to the bather or other animal, object, or thing.
A similar motion is obtained when the pedal D¹ is depressed only the action of the
valves are reversed.
When the above described pumping apparatus is employed for bathing or washing
the human body it may be used with an ordinary bath or tray or placed in a
collapsible india-rubber tray similar to that described in the Specification of the
hereinbefore mentioned Letters Patent; and when the bathing operation is completed
the bath or tray may be emptied (whilst the bather is drying himself) by reversing
the position of tubes j¹ and j's, that is, converting outlet tube 15 into the inlet,
and tube j" into the outlet.
But when the pumping apparatus is used for washing or bathing horses, dogs,
animals, carriages, windows, watering gardens, or like purposes I find it advantageous
to place it within a receptacle such as C which also contains the water, whereby
the pumping apparatus and its water supply may be readily removed from one place
to another.
In the above arrangements of apparatus I have shown and described the cylinders
as being provided with single pistons, but when preferred each cylinder may have
two pistons as shown at Fig. 9 (connected and operating together in a similar manner
to that described in the aforesaid Specification) and two water spaces or compartments.
In this case each cylinder is provided with an orifice I or I¹ at its top and bottom
ends, and the tubes or pipes 22 3 respectively connecting each bottom orifice with the
central chamber J. will cross each other in a diagonal direction and form a junction
with tubes or pipes i at ii respectively between the chamber Jand the cylinders BB¹.
By this means a double amount of water may be ejected by the same length of stroke
of the pistons and depression of the pedals.
I would have it understood that although I have described the above arrangements
of pumping apparatus as being applicable for pumping water, yet it may also be used
for pumping, raising, and ejecting any other liquid that will not destroy or corrode
its component parts; and further in some cases it may be found advantageous to
combine the pumping apparatus described in the Specification of my herein before
mentioned patent with a receptacle such as C in place of the collapsible bags or
reservoirs B2 B³.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in portable pumping apparatus substantially as described
worked by the heels of the operator's feet and permitting of the free use of both hands
for the purposes set forth, said apparatus consisting essentially of two vertical cylinders
such as B B provided with pistons, or collapsible bellows like bags or reservoirs such
as B2 B3 mounted upon or within a platform such as A on which the operator stands,
or within a water receptacle such as C, and actuated by the heels of the operator's
feet through suitable pedals, spindles, rocking shaft and lever or levers as described
for drawing the water out of the bucket or other receptacle through suitable tubes
into a central chamber such as J (provided with ball valves as described) into ono
cylinder or bag at the same time that water is being ejected from the other cylinder
or bag through suitable rigid or flexible (or both) tubes armed as described on to the
bather or other object.
2. In portable pumping apparatus substantially as described worked by the heels
of the operator's feet and permitting of the free use of both hands for the purposes
set forth, the combination of the cylinders or bags and means substantially as described
for operating the same, with a platform such as A or with a platform and water
receptacle such as C, as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In portable pumping apparatus such as herein described worked by the heels of
the operator's feet and permitting of the free use of both hands for the purposes set
forth, the combination of cylinders such as B B' provided with pistons b 3 working
therein, or collapsible bags or reservoirs such as B B³, tubes or chamber J and parts

page_text: connected therewith, a platform such as A (or platform A and water receptacle such
as C) rocking shaft such as F and parts connected therewith all operating together
for drawing the water out of a bucket or other receptacle and ejecting it on to a
bather or other object or thing through a rigid or flexible tubes (or both) armed
substantially as described and illustrated at Figs. 10 to 16.
4. The combination with portable pumping apparatus such as herein described worked
by the heels of the operator's feet and permitting of the free use of both hands for
the purposes set forth, of a rose armed with a row or band of bristles, india-rubber,
Egyptian loofah,or other suitable material substantially as described and illustrated āt
Figs. 10 to 13 and for the purposes set forth.
5. The improved pumping apparatus worked by the heels of the operator's feet and
permitting of the free use of both hands for the purposes set forth substantially
as herein described and represented at Figs. to 9 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this Twenty-third day of April 1890.
DONALD NOBLE.
By W. Fairburn-Hart,
Agent.