Improvements in Apparatus for Pumping or Forcing Air and other Fluids.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Pumping or Forcing Air and
other Fluids.
1, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN of 28 Rose Grove, Ardwick,
Manchester in the County of Lascaster, Manufacturer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for pumping or forcing air, water or other
fluids and consists in improved arrangements or constructions of said apparatus,
the object of the invention being to dispense with pistons and make the apparatus
easily portable and inexpensive, the improved apparatus being more particularly
intended for inflating pneumatic tyres but applicable to other purposes.
The apparatus consists essentially of an elastic tube which can be compressed
and flattened and resumes its tubular shape after the pressure is removed, such as a
tube of vulcanised indiarubber, and means for alternately progressively compressing
or flattening said tube and releasing the same, the tube having an inlet opening
near to one end and an outlet opening with a non-return valve at the other end.
By compressing the tube at or near to the inlet opening and then progressively
towards the other end, the air or other fluid contained therein is forced out at the
other end, and when the pressure is removed, the tube expands again and thereby
draws in another supply of fluid through the inlet opening, when the process can
be repeated.
The apparatus while retaining the aforesaid characteristics may be carried out
in various ways.
In one arrangement of the same intended more particularly for inflating tyres
I employ an india rubber tube having an outlet nozzle at one end which can be
connected to the inlet valve of the pneumatic tyre and a ring at the other end for
holding the tube by. The tube has an inlet opening a short distance from said
ring and is embraced or nipped by a pair of rollers one or both of which may be
made of india rubber. The rollers are mounted in a suitable frame provided with
a handle and may be pressed together by springs. By drawing the rollers back
to the ring in front of the inlet opening of the tube, the latter is allowed to expand
to its tubular or circular shape and becomes filled with air, and when the rollers
are then pushed towards the other end they pass the orifice and push or force the
air out of the tube by flattening the same as they progress.
In a modification of the preceeding arrangement the tube is fixed upon a board
or rail and a roller moveable by a handle and pressed against the tube by any
suitable means is used for flattening the tube progressively against the rail.
Instead of a straight rail or board a circular wheel rim may be used, to the outside
or inside of which one or more rubber tubes bent round the same are attached.
The wheel is fitted with a central shaft on which a crank-handle can turn. A roller
is attached to the handle and pressed against the tube or tubes so as to flatten
them. The tubes are tapered off at each end to the thickness of the tubes when
flattened so that the roller can pass over the ends and be continuously rotated
round the wheel rim and tubes. The latter have inlet openings at one end and
outlet openings at the other, the latter being on the side bearing on the rim and
connected to tubes passing through the same, which tubes may be jointed to a
common delivery pipe. If used for forcing or pumping liquids, the inlet orifices of

page_text: the tubes would be likewise on their bearing side and be connected to supply pipes
in a similar manner. By putting two or more rows or circles of tubes on the rim,
breaking joint, a continuous uniform blast or jet of fluid can be obtained.
In another modification of the apparatus 1 effect the progressive compression of
the tube by lapping on the tube upon a drum or barrel to which the inlet end of
the tube is attached. A roller may be arranged to press the tube against the barrel
or upon the lapped on part, or the compression may be effected by the lapping-on
itself.
In the latter case the delivery end may be fixed to a rim centred on the same
shaft as the lapping drum or barrel and a spiral spring connected to the two parts
which spring is wound on simultaneously with the tube and quickly unlaps the same
when either of said parts is released.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.
Improvements in Apparatus for Pumping or Forcing Air and
other Fluids.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN of 28, Rose Grove, Ardwick,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, 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 :--
This invention relates to apparatus for pumping or forcing air, water or other
fluids and consists in improved arragements or constructions of said apparatus, the
object of the invention being to dispense with pistons and make the apparatus
readily portable and inexpensive, the improved apparatus being more particularly
intended for inflating pneumatic tyres but applicable to other purposes.
The apparatus consists essentially of an elastic tube which can be compressed
and flattened and which resumes its tubular shape after the pressure is removed,
such as a tube of vulcanised india-rubber and means for alternatively progressively
compressing or flattening said tube and releasing the same, the tube having an
inlet opening near to one end and an outlet opening with a non-return valve at the
other end. By compressing the tube at or near to the inlet opening and then
progressively towards the other end, the air or other fluid contained therein is
forced out at the outlet end, and when the pressure is removed, the tube expands
again and thereby draws in another supply of fluid through the inlet opening when
the process can be repeated.
The apparatus while retaining the aforesaid characteristics may be carried out in
various ways.
On the drawing appended hereunto
Fig. 1, shows a side view partly in section, and Fig. 2, a sectional plan of one
modification of pumping or forcing apparatus ;
Fig. 3, a side view of a portion of another modification.
The apparatus shown by Figs. 1 and 2, consists of a pulley a with rim and arms
or disc of metal or other stiff material to the inside of which an indiarubber
tube b is fixed by means of the outlet pipe c, or otherwise, and a handle d turning
on a stud e fixed to the centre or boss of the pulley a and carrying a compressing
roller. The tube b is preferably formed with tapered ends cemented together so
as to form an endless tube with an inclined partition b¹ or may be otherwise made
endless with an inclined partition, or the tapered ends of the tube may not overlap
each other. On one of the tapered ends or at one side of the partition an outlet

page_text: tube e passing through a hole in the rim a is formed to which tube a back pressure
valve and delivery pipe are connected, while at the other end or at the other side
of the partition an inlet opening for the fluid to be pumped or forced is arranged.
If the apparatus is to be used for forcing air, for instance for inflating a pneumatic
tyre, the inlet opening g is conveniently made on the inner side of the tube b, as
shewn, while if the apparatus is intended for liquids, the inlet opening would be
formed with an inlet tube passing through a hole in the rim similar to the outlet
tube c, to which inlet tube the suction pipe would be connected. The roller f turns
on a stud d' fixed in the handle d, the stud being so adjusted that the roller presses.
the sides of the tube 6 flat upon each other as shewn on the drawing, the tube
being preferably made of a section similar to that shewn or of lenticular section, so
that it can be flattened without breaking at the edges or corners.
When the handle is turned round in the same direction as a clock-finger moves,
while the pulley is held fast or fixed to some suitable support, the roller will
progressively flatten or compress the part of the tube before it, and release the
part behind it, so that the fluid contained in the tube is forced out in front of
the roller through the delivery tube c and fluid is sucked into the tube behind the
roller.
Two or more such tubes may be arranged side by side either with their inlet
and outlet openings set at equal arcs from each other and a broad roller for com-
pressing them, or preferably placed with their inlet and outlet openings respectively
in the same radial plane and separate rollers for the several tubes mounted on
arms or their equivalent on the handle boss at equal angles with each other, for
the purpose of obtaining a double or multiple pumping action of the apparatus.
The outlet and inlet pipes of the several tubes are in this case preferably joined
together into a common outlet and inlet pipe, for which purpose the second-
alternative arrangement before described is more convenient.
Obviously the mechanical details or arrangements of the apparatus may be
varied or replaced by their equivalents for instance, the rollers may be formed
with pivots supported in forked brackets attached to or formed on the handle, or
said brackets may slide in recesses made in the boss of the handle and be pressed
against the tube by helical springs. The tube or tubes may be fixed to the outside
of the pulley rim instead of to the inside.
Instead of the tube being fixed to a cylindrical rim, it may be fixed to a flat bar
or its equivalent and the roller pressed upon and reciprocated along the tube, the
movement being extended backwards beyond the inlet opening.
Instead of the tube (or tubes) being flattened or compressed against a cylindrical
or plane stationary support by a moving roller, it may be compressed between two
reciprocating rollers h, has shewn by Figure 3, the rollers being supported in a
suitable carrier i, to which a reciprocating motion is given while the tube is held
stationary by attachments arranged at its ends, for instance by being connected
to a central discharge pipe at one end and a ring at the other end held in the hand
or fixed to a stationary support. The inlet opening is in this case arranged at such
a distance from the end that the rollers can be drawn back behind it on their
return stroke. The tube and roller may be duplicated.
The various modifications of forcing or pumping apparatus may be actuated by
hand or motive power according to the size and purpose of the apparatus.
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. In apparatus for forcing or pumping fluids the use and arrangement of an
elastic or flexible tube with inlet and outlet openings at opposite ends thereof and
means for progressively compressing or flattening the tube from the inlet towards
the outlet end substantially as herein before described.
2. The construction or arrangement and use of apparatus for pumping or forcing
fluids consisting of an elastic tube, or more than one, with inlet and outlet openings

page_text: at opposite ends thereof and fixed to a cylindrical rim, a roller, or more than one,
compressing or flattening said tube or tubes against said rim, and means for rotating
said roller or rollers round said rim substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
3. The construction or arrangement and use of apparatus for pumping or forcing
fluids consisting of an elastic tube, or more than one, with inlet and outlet openings
at opposite ends thereof and attached to a plane surface, a roller or rollers com-
pressing or flattening said tube or tubes against said surface and means for imparting
a reciprocating motion to said roller or rollers along the tube or tubes substantially
as hereinbefore described.
4. The use and construction or arrangement of apparatus for forcing or pumping
fluids consisting of an elastic tube, or elastic tubes, with inlet and outlet openings
at opposite ends thereof and supported at each end, one pair or several pairs of
rollers compressing or flattening said tube or tubes between them, and means for
imparting a reciprocating motion to the roller or rollers along the tube or tubes
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3, of the drawings.
Dated this 20th day of November 1894.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.