IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING LIQUIDS, AND IN JOINTS FOR UNITING INDIA-. RUBBER AND OTHER LIKE FLEXIBLE TUBING
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Lacey, of Grafton Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR RAISING LIQUIDS, AND IN JOINTS FOR UNITING INDIA-.
RUBBER AND OTHER LIKE FLEXIBLE TUBING."
Sealed the 23rd March 1853, and dated the 12th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Lacey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on.
the 12th October 1852.
I, THOMAS LACEY, of Grafton Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING LIQUIDS, AND IN JOINTS FOR
UNITING INDIA-RUBBER AND OTHER LIKE FLEXIBLE TUBING," to be as
follows:
My improvements consist in causing a descending column of water,
or other liquid to raise an equivalent column.
The ascending and descending columns are received in a vessel, and,
are separated from each other by means of a diaphragm or diaphragms

page_text: of vulcanized india-rubber. Means are provided for admitting and
delivering the ascending and descending columns into and from the
vessel, as required.
In the case of beer barrels I propose to insert a diaphragm about the
centre of the barrel. When the barrel is being filled the diaphragm
will be expanded against the end of the barrel opposite that at which
the liquid is admitted; an orifice for the admission of air or of a column
of liquid is provided behind the diaphragms, and as the beer is drawn
off from the barrel the diaphragm follows it, and keeps the atmosphere
from it until the barrel is empty, or nearly so.
The improvements in joints for india-rubber and other like flexible
tubing are shewn in the annexed. A, Figure 1, is the body of the.
joint; the tubing is placed over the conical ends B, B; and the collars
C, C, are then brought over the ends of the tubing, and screwed into
the body, whereby a perfectly tight joint is cffected.
Where liquids which would act upon metals are to be passed through
the tubes I form the joint, as shewn in Figure 2. A, A, is a piece of
gutta percha, glass, or other material not liable to be acted on, which I
insert into the two ends of the tubes to be united; one collar is tapped
with a male, and the other with a female screw. I then bring the
collars up and screw them together, and thus form a perfectly tight
joint.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Lacey in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 12th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
THOMAS LACEY, of Grafton Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Thomas Lacey, Her special licence that I, the

page_text: said Thomas Lacey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Thomas Lacey, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, froni time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING LIQUIDS, AND
IN JOINTS POR UNITING INDIA-RUBBER AND OTHER LIKE FLEXIBLE TUBING,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Lacey,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and scal, 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 Thomas Lacey, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed (that is to say):
My Invention consists,-First, in certain apparatus whereby a fall of
water or other liquid into or from a peculiarly constructed receiver
causes a like quantity of water or other liquid to ascend. Second, in
inserting a flexible diaphragin in a cask or other vessel, and in raising
the contents thereof by the admission of a fall of water or of com-
pressed air or steam behind such diaphragm. And, tliird, in a joint
for flexible tubing fitted to the tubing without being cemented thereto.
And the manner in which my Invention may be performed is as
follows:-
Figure 1, of the Drawings hereunto annexed is a sectional elevation
of an apparatus adapted to raise water to the upper part of a house or
other building. A, A, is a vessel divided into two compartments by the
flexible diaphragm B, D, B. C, is a vulcanized india-rubber tube
connected at one end to the diaphragm at d, and at the other end to
a tube E. H, is a cord or chain connected to the centre of the
diaphragin, and passing in the tube E, and over the pulley J. K, is a

page_text: water supply tank for containing the water which is to be raised. L,
is a pipe leading from this tank to the upper compartment of the vessel
A, A. M, is a pipe for conveying the water to its destination. N, is
a pipe for conveying waste water from a receiver into the vessel A,
under the diaphragm. O, and P, are three-way cocks fixed on the pipes
. M, and N, and connected by the rod Q. R, and S, are weighted levers.
These weighted levers are for the purpose of reversing the cocks O, and
"P, and are alternately raised by the cords W, W, passing over a pulley
Z. U, and V, are arms on the axis of the pulley for raising the catches
X, X', and relieving the weights R, and S, as herein-after explained.
The Drawing represents the apparatus charged for delivering a
supply of water to the upper part of a building. The weight R, is
represented as having been released from the catch X, by the arm U,
whereby it has reversed the cocks O, and P, so that the cock O, opens
up a communication between the lower part of the pipe L, and the
pipe M, while it closes the communication between the lower and upper
parts of the pipe L. The cock P, opens a passage from the pipe N, to
-the pipe n, fitted to the bottom of the vessel A, A, under the diaphragm
B, D, B. Waste water being now discharged from any given elevation
through the pipe N, will flow through the open passage in the cock P,
into the vessel A, A, under the diaphragm B, D, B, which it will raise
and force up the water above it in the vessel A, A, to nearly about the
level of the vessel from which the waste water was discharged. The
rise of the diaphragm and the retraction of the vulcanized tube C, puts
the pulley J, in inotion, which being assisted by the weight T, fixed on
the periphery thereof brings up the arm of the weighted lever R, until
the weight on the end thereof is held by the catch X. At the same
time the arm V, on the axis of the pulley liberates the weighted lever
.S, from the catch X', whereby the cocks O, and P, are reversed, that
is to say, communication is closed between the pipes L, and M, and
opened between the two parts of the pipe L; the passage in the cock
P, from N, to n, is closed, while that between n, and Y, a final dis-
charge pipe is opened. A fresh supply of clean water will. flow from the
reservoir K, through the pipe L, into the vessel A, A, will depress the
diaphragm, and drive out the water under it through the pipe n, and

page_text: (now open) passage in the cock P, into the final discharge pipe Y.
The apparatus is now again in the position shewn in the Drawing, and
ready for repeating the "operation lierein-before described. ' "Where
liquids; such as beer, are required to be raised. from 'the cellar to the bar,
Iinsert a flexible diaphragm about the centre of the barrel or other
vessel in which it is to be contained. When the barrel or vessel is being
filled the diaphragm will be expanded against the end of the barrel
opposite that at which the beer is admitted. An orifice for the admis-
sion of compressed air or stean or of a column of liquid is provided
behind the diaphragm, and on its admission; forces up the beer. Beer
stored in vessels of this construction will be found to keep good a con-
siderable time, as, atmospheric air is altogether prevented from mixing
with it.
...
Figures 2, and 3, are external elevation and section of a joint for
uniting two lengths of india-rubber or other like flexible tubing. A, is
the body, of the joint; B, B, two collars, which screw into a thread
on the body A. One collar is placed upon each of the ends to be
joined; the ends are then each brought over the conical part of the
body A, and the two collars are brought up and screwed thereto.
Where a length of india-rubber or other like flexible tubing is to be
united to a metal tube I employ one collar only, and connect the body
of the joint on which the screw thread is formed to the metal tube.
And where liquids which would act upon metals are to be passed
through the tubes I form the joint as shewn in Figure 4. A, A, is a
piece of gutta percha, glass, or other material not liable to be acted on,
which I insert into the two ends of the tubes to be united, having, as
before, passed one collar over each end of tube, one collar is tapped with
a male and the other with a female thread, I bring the collars up,
screw them together, and thus form a perfectly tight joint.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the raising of liquids by means of a vessel fitted with a flexible
diaphragm, in which a descending column of liquid acting upon such
diaphragm raises or displaces the liquid on the upper or reverse side
thereof, as herein-before explained.

page_text: Second, I claim the raising the contents of casks, barrels, and other
vessels by means of a pressure of water, of steam, or of air acting on
a flexible diaphragm, as herein-before described.
Third, I claim the employment of an india-rubber tube in vessels
for raising liquids as a substitute for an ordinary piston and stuffing
box.
And, fourth, I claim the joint herein-before represented and de-
scribed for uniting india-rubber and other like flexible tubing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Lacey, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.