Improvements in Water Elevators.
Year: 1893

page_text: COME LEIE DIEVLICATION
Improvements in Water Elevators.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by The Automatic Water Tank Company a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey having an office
in the Masonic Temple Building Nos. 411 to 417 Market Street in the City of
Camden in said State and having also an office at No. 426 Walnut Street in the
City of Philadelphia State of Pennsylvania U.S.A.) and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
This invention relates especially to water elevators in which steam is used to
force water out of a tank, the steam afterwards condensing and forming a partial
vacuum in the tank which will fill again with water by suction.
The object of the invention is to so construct the device that it will operate
accurately as soon as connected to the steam supply pipe and to so arrange the
valves that they will be water sealed and a further object of the invention is to so
connect the tank with the reservoir that water can be supplied direct from the
tank or by gravity from the reservoir, this reservoir is especially applicable for use
at water stations of railroads so that in the event of a locomotive that is disabled
being on the track in front of the apparatus it can receive water from the reservoir
by gravity, but the mechanism is so arranged that the succeeding engine must first
refill the reservoir before it can receive water so as to insure the maintenance of
sufficient water in the tank.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a view illustrating the vacuum tank and reservoir connected;
Figure 2 is a view partially in section of the preferred form of apparatus;
Figure 3 is a modified form of the valve mechanism for the reservoir;
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the water seal for the spray reservoir;
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are views illustrating modifications of this water seal;
Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the water seal of the steam inlet pipe;
and
Figure 9 is a view of the steam actuated exhaust valve.
An apparatus in its preferred form, will first be described with reference to
Figure 2 of the drawings.
A is a tank made of sheet metal or other suitable material. B is a suction pipe
which extends into the well and is preferably provided with a strainer; b is the
suction valve which is so arranged that when the valve is closed there will be
sufficient water above it to make a water seal.
is the discharge pipe having a discharge valve e and in the present instance
directly above this valve is a chamber c¹ into which a certain amount of water
passes when the discharge takes place so that when the valve closes the water
returns from this chamber and water seals the valve.
In the present instance the discharge pipe extends to a goose neck C¹ which
overhangs a track, as clearly shown in Figure 1 so that a locomotive can be
supplied with water by the apparatus, but it will be understood that the discharge
pipe may extend to different outlets as the apparatus can be used for elevating
water generally.
D is the steam supply pipe which, in the present instance, is so arranged as to be
readily coupled to a pipe on the locomotive or tender, this steam supply pipe
extends to a nozzle d in the upper portion of the tank A so that when steam is

page_text: turned into the pipe it will enter the tank and force the water out through the
discharge pipe C.
dis a water seal so arranged in the pipe D as to prevent air entering the vacuum
chamber when the steam pipe D is uncoupled.
In the present instance the steam pipe extends down into the well in the form of
a loop, as shown in Figure 2, and in the base of the loop is a valve d³ which opens
to allow water from the well to enter the loop and form the water seal. The lower
portion of the loop is preferably constructed as shown in Figure 8, so that it can
be readily detached from the pipe when repairs are necessary, but it will be under-
stood that a plain valve casing may be used in some instances.
A mechanical check valve as at d may also be used if necessary and this
mechanical air check valve may be substituted for the water seal loop d¹ when the
apparatus is mounted so as to make it inconvenient to form the loop. It will also
be understood that the water seal loop need not necessarily extend into the well but
may extend into a vessel containing water sufficient to make the seal.
d' is a check valve to prevent the spray water entering the steam pipe when
steam is cut off.
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E is the spray reservoir connected to the base of the tank through the pipes e e¹,
and e and the pipe e³ is also connected to the nozzled by a pipe e; e³ and eª are
check valves; E is a water seal which beyond the suction limit of the tank, the
water seal is made in the present instance by extending the pipe el down to a point
below the suction limit and extending the pipe e within the pipe e¹ to near the end
of the pipe e so as to allow the water to be passed from one pipe into the other.
Secured to the pipe el is a point which closes the end of the pipe and is so formed
that it will readily enter the ground. The construction of this device is clearly
shown in Figure 4.
When water is forced out of the tank by the steam a certain proportion passes
through the pipe es, past the check valve e through the pipes es, e and e into the
spray reservoir E, but when steam is cut off and a partial vacuum formed in the
tank the spray water returns to the tank through the pipes e e', e, past the check
valve e, through the pipe e and nozzle d discharging onto the spray plate a within
the tank; this water quickly condenses the steam so as to form a partial vacuum
sufficient to cause the water from the well to flow into the tank through the suction
pipe B.
The above described apparatus will quickly and accurately elevate water and it
will be understood that the arrangement of the pipes between the spray reservoir
and the tank may be modified without departing from the invention, as for instance,
referring to Figure 5, the pipes may extend up beyond the suction limit when it is
impossible to extend them below the suction limit and, as shown in Figure 6 a
portion of the discharge pipe C can be used as the spray reservoir, the pipes being
so coupled to it that when a certain amount of water passes from the tank the
steam will discharge freely, thus holding in the pipe above the valve c sufficient
water for the spray.
In Figure 7 the spray reservoir is shewn in the upper portion of the tank A.
it being connected to the base of the tank by a pipe which extends beyond the
suction limit.
In some instances when it is desirable to exhaust the steam shortly after the
steam supply is cut off, there may be mounted within the tank A a manifold pipe F
having extensions f which terminate at different levels in the tank, as clearly shown
in Figure 2 and are preferably provided with nozzles within the manifold. This
manifold pipe F is connected to a pipe F¹ which is connected to a valve F³ clearly
shown in Figure 9, and the valve in turn is connected to an exhaust pipe F
terminating in the present instance below the water level of the well so that it will
be water sealed and the valve is also connected to the steam pipe D.
Within the valve casing F is a valve g for cutting off.communication between
the pipes F and F and on this valve is a head g' of greater area than the valve g
so that when steam enters the pipe D it will close the valve 9 preventing the

page_text: escape of steam from the tank, but when the steam is cut off from the pipe D
the valve g may be opened by steam from the manifold when the water rushes into
the tank.
The operation of discharging and recharging the tank is very quick and as soon
as the water is discharged from the tank the suction action immediately takes place
and the tank is charged with water.
When the apparatus is used for charging locomotives or their tenders with water,
it is preferred to combine it with a storage reservoir H, clearly shown in Figure 1,
so that a locomotive may receive water from the storage tank when necessary,
but it will be understood that the device may be used without a storage tank.
The storage reservoir H is preferably mounted on a suitable foundation as shown
sufficiently above the tank to allow the water to flow from the reservoir by gravity
and the discharge pipe C preferably extends above the tank and through it to the
goose neck. The discharge pipe C is provided with a branch pipe C and with a
valve which directs the water either to the goose neck or into the storage
reservoir.
The valve i has an arm attached to a float within the contracted portion H¹
of the storage reservoir so that when the water in the reservoir is lowered the valve
will be so turned that the water from the tank A will enter the reservoir instead of
passing through to the goose neck as soon as the water in the reservoir reaches the
proper level the valve is turned so that the water will have an uninterrupted passage
direct from the tank to the locomotive.
is the outlet from the reservoir H to the goose neck, this passage has a valve h'
connected to an operating rod 2 by a rod h³ and a lever *, so that the same goose
neck can be used for both the reservoir and the tank.
The contracted portion H', of the reservoir, may be dispensed with in some
instances and the reservoir be constructed as shown in Figure 3, but the valve i will
not operate as rapidly as when the contracted portion is used.
In some instances instead of using the manifold, the standard may be hollow
and perforated at intervals dispensing with the series of pipes f, but it is preferred
to use the construction shown in Figure 2.
It will be understood in some instances that the valve i may be operated by hand
instead of by a float so as to direct the water into the storage reservoir when
necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A steam vacuum water tank having all its inlets and outlets water sealed,
substantially as specified.
Second. The combination of the tank, the inlet therefor, the discharge pipe, the
steam inlet, and the spray reservoir and connections, a valve in the water discharge
pipe adapted to open when steam is admitted to the tank to discharge the water past
said valve, and a dome above the valve into which a certain quantity of water is
forced during the passage of water through the pipe, so that when the valve closes,
the water from the dome will fall into the space above the valve, and be retained
there by the valve forming a water seal for the water discharge pipe, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
Third. The combination of the vacuum water elevator, the discharge pipe
therefor, a reserve tank, a valve controlling the passage of water through the
discharge pipe, or into the reserve tank, and an outlet for the said reserve tank,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fourth. The combination of the vacuum water elevator, the discharge pipe
therefor, a reserve tank, a valve for controlling the passage of water through the
discharge pipe, or into the reserve tank, the said valve being controlled by the water
in the reserve tank, so that when the reserve tank is full the communication with
the tank will be closed, and when the water in the tank is low, the valve will be

page_text: opened and water will discharge into the tank, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Fifth. The combination of the discharge pipe, the vacuum tank to which it is
connected, a reserve tank, having a contracted upper portion, an opening in the
discharge pipe through which water may pass into the reserve tank, a valve in the
said pipe, and a float in the contracted portion of the reserve tank, for controlling
the valve, substantially as herein before described..
Sixth. The combination of the vacuum tank, the discharge pipe therefor
connected to a goose neck hanging over a track, a steam pipe adapted to be
connected to the steam supply pipe of a locomotive or tender, and connected directly
to the vacuum tank, a reserve tank mounted above the level of the track so that the
water will flow from the said tank to the tender, by gravity, a valved opening in the
discharge pipe of the vacuum tank, a handle for operating the said valve, whereby,
on opening the valve, water in the reserve tank will flow through the goose neck by
gravity, an opening in the discharge pipe above the said valved opening through
which water from the vacuum tank will flow into the reserve tank, a valve
controlling the flow of water either through the opening, or through the discharge
pipe and a float operating the said valve, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Seventh. The combination of a tank, a spray reservoir, water supply and ontlet
for the tank, with an air seal communicating with the tank and the spray reservoir,
the said air seal being beyond the suction limit of the tank, substantially as
herein before described.
Eighth. The combination of the tank, the water inlet and the water outlet
therefor, a steam supply pipe entering the tank at the top, a spray reservoir, pipes
forming communication between the spray reservoir and the upper and lower
portions of the tank, and extending beyond the suction limit of the tank,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Ninth. 'The combination of the tank, inlets and outlets therefor, a reservoir,
pipes d and forming the communication between the reservoir and the tank, and
extending below the suction line of the tank, with a point d on one of said pipes so
that the pipes can be driven into the ground, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Tenth. The combination of a vacuum tank, the water inlet and outlet therefor, a
steam inlet pipe adapted to be coupled to a steam generator, and a water seal
device in the said steam pipe, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Eleventh. The combination of a vacuum water tank, steam inlet pipe having a
loop extending below a water level, an opening in the base of the said loop, and a
valve for the said opening which will close on the passage of steam through the
pipe, and will open when steam is cut off and allow water to flow into the loop,
thereby making a water seal for the pipe, and preventing the admission of air to the
tank through the pipe, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Twelfth. The combination of the vacuum tank, the steam inlet therefor, a check
valve in the said steam inlet pipe, a steam exhaust pipe communicating with the
tank, and a steam actuated valve closing the said pipe when steam is turned into
the supply pipe, the said valve allowing the steam to escape through the steam
exhaust pipe when the live steam is cut off, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Thirteenth. The combination of the tank, the steam supply pipe therefor, an
exhaust pipe entering the tank, a valve closing the said pipe while steam is entering
the tank, and a series of outlets connected with the said pipe, arranged at different
levels in the tank, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fourteenth. The combination of the tank, the steam supply pipe therefor, the
steam exhaust pipe, a valve closing the said pipe when steam is entering the tank, a
manifold connected with the exhaust pipe, and a series of pipes depending from the
said manifold, the said pipes being of different lengths and open to receive steam
from the tank when the steam supply is cut off, substantially as hereinbefore
described.

page_text: Fifteenth. The combination of the vacuum tank, the steam pipe on the tender,
and a pipe for conveying steam from the tender pipe to the vacuum tank, the said
conveying pipe having means for checking the flow of air but no valve for stopping
the flow of steam through the same, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 24th day of October 1893.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.