IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS FOR DRAINING MINES AND CLEARING CANALS AND RIVERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Docile Dutot, Engineer, and Edmond Colette, Morchant,
both of the City of Paris, in the Republic of France, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS FOR DRAINING MINES AND CLEARING CANALS
AND RIVERS."
"
Sealed the 2nd November 1877, and dated the 9th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Docile Dutot and Edmond
Colette at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May 1877.
DOCILE DUTOT, Engineer, and EDMOND COLETTE, Merchant, both of the City
of Paris, in the Republic of France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS FOR DRAINING
MINES AND CLEARING CANALS AND RIVERS."
This Invention relates to double-action pumps raising water by air, partly by suction
and partly by force, and whatever the depth of the well, shaft, or otherwise, the air
only bears a pressure or depression of one-fourth of an atmosphere; the arrange-
ment of the valves is such as to prevent any possible deterioration, consequently,
the durability of the pump is insured for a lengthened period without repairs.
A motive power only half the force of that required for any other system suffices,
with the advantage of the suppression of any liquid in the cylinder or body of the
pump into which air only enters; this method therefore admits of all kinds of solid
matter being raised with as much ease as water.
During the sinking of a well or shaft of a mine, or in aqueous land, it is easy to
raise the greater part of the solid matter with the water, without injury to the
pump.
In dredging beds of rivers, basins, and so forth, this pump is most advantageous,
as the necessity of emptying them is obviated; and in dredging below water,
pebbles, sand, mud, or slime are drawn up with the water in considerable quantities
and with a minimum force; for example, with a 5-horse power 150 cubic mètres per
hour of solid matter may be raised a height of 10 mètres.
For irrigating purposes, water supply, and for domestic uses, the small cost of the
pump renders its use beneficial.
Whatever the depth of the shaft, throughout its height it is divided into intervals
of 5 mètres, at each of which points a reservoir R is placed; these reservoirs com-

page_text: municate, on one hand, with those above and below one another by a tube or water
lift I, and on the other hand with air columns T and T¹; an even number of
reservoirs R communicate with one air column T, and an uneven number of
reservoirs R' with another air column T¹.
A cylinder C, in which a piston moves, compresses and expands the air used for
raising the water; equipoised valves act automatically after each stroke of the
piston; the reservoirs and air columns are furnished with stop valves 8.
The Drawings are intended to represent the principle of the apparatus, whose
action is as follows:-Supposing the reservoirs primed and working, and that the
piston is prepared to make a stroke in the direction of the arrows, there will be a
suction of air at the side C of the cylinder as well as in the tube T and in the
reservoir R; this depression by the effect of the pressure of the external atmosphere
will open the valve 8, and the water contained in the tank B will rise in the tube I
as long as the depression lasts, and the water will fill the reservoir R to of its
height; this height is regulated by the course of the piston.
Whilst the suction at C is exercised, the face C₁ of the piston forces the air in
the tube T and in the reservoir R¹, the result being that the valve s in the reservoir
R¹ is closed, and the air pressing on the liquid, forces it to rise in the tube I, to be
expelled by the valve s placed in the upper tank B', the reservoir R¹ then empties
itself to the same extent as the reservoir R is filled.
If the piston makes a return stroke the contrary effect is produced, and the
apparatus acts thus:-The vacuum being produced behind the piston at C', and in
the tube T¹, and reservoir R¹, the valve of the latter opens and the water in the
reservoir R is sucked to fill the reservoir R¹; but whilst a suction is thus produced
in R³, the other face of the piston compresses the air in C, T, and R, the air pressing
the liquid, the valve 8 is closed, and the water rises in the tube I, where it is already
drawn by the suction which is made at the head of the tube I in the reservoir R¹,
and so on successively throughout.
The air cylinder may be replaced by one or more bellows.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Docile Dutot and Edmond Colette in. the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th November 1877.
⚫ DOCILE DUTOT, Engineer, and EDMOND COLETTE, Merchant, both of the City
of Paris, in the Republic of France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS FOR DRAINING
MINES AND CLEARING CANALS AND RIVERS."
This Invention relates to double-action pumps raising water by air, partly by
suction and partly by force, and whatever the depth of the well, shaft, or otherwise,
the air only bears a pressure or depression of one-fourth of an atmosphere; the
arrangement of the valves is such as to prevent any possible detiroration, conse-
quently, the durability of the pump is insured for a lengthened period without
repairs.
*A motive power only half the force of that required for any other system suffices,
with the advantage of the suppression of any liquid in the cylinder or body of the
pump into which air only enters; this method admits of all kinds of solid matter
being raised with as much ease as water.
During the sinking of a well, or shaft of a mine, or in aqueous land, it is easy
to raise the greater part of the solid matter with the water, without injury to the
pump.
In dredging beds of rivers, basins, and so forth, this pump is most advantageous,
as the necessity of emptying them is obviated; and in dredging below water,
pebbles, sand, mud, or slime are drawn up with the water in considerable qaantities
and with a minimum force; for example, with a 5-horse power, 150 cubic metres
per hour of solid matter may be raised a height of 10 metres.

page_text: For irrigating purposes, water supply, and for domestic uses, the small cost of the
pump renders its use beneficial.
Whatever the depth of the shaft, throughout its height it is divided into intervals
of 5 metres, at each of which points a reservoir R is placed, see Fig. 1; these
reservoirs communicate on one hand with those above and below one another by a
tube or water lift I, and on the other hand with air columns T and T¹; an even
number of reservoirs R communicate with an air column T, and an uneven number
of reservoirs R' with another air column or tube T¹.
A cylinder C, in which a piston moves, compresses and expands the air used for
raising the water; equipoised valves S, S, act automatically after each stroke of the
piston. The reservoirs and air columns are furnished with stop valves 8.
Action of the apparatus:-Supposing the reservoirs primed and working, and that
the piston is prepared to make a stroke in the direction of the arrows, there will be
a suction of air at the side C of the cylinder, as well as in the tube T and in the
reservoir R; this depression by the effect of the pressure of the external atmosphere
will open the valve 8, and the water contained in the tank B will rise in the tube I
as long as the depression lasts, and the water will fill the reservoir R to of its
height; this height is regulated by the course of the piston.
Whilst the suction at C is exercised, the face C₁ of the piston forces the air in
the tube T¹ and in the reservoir R', the result being that the valves in the reservoir
R¹ is closed, and the air pressing on the liquid forces it to rise in the tube I, to be
expelled by the valve 8 placed in the upper tank B¹, the reservoir R¹ then empties
itself to the same extent as the reservoir R is filled.
If the piston makes a return stroke the contrary effect is produced, and the
apparatus acts thus:-The vacuum produced behind the piston at C¹ and in the
tube T¹ and reservoir R', the valve of the latter opens, and the water in the reser-
voir R is sucked to fill the reservoir R¹; but whilst a suction is thus produced in
R', the other face of the piston compresses the air in C, T, and R, the air pressing
the liquid, the valve 8 is closed, and the water rises in the tube I, where it is already
drawn by the suction which is made at the head of the tube I in the reservoir R¹,
and so on successively throughout.
The air cylinder may be replaced by one or more solid bellows.
Fig. 2 is a series of reservoirs in a shaft placed 5 metres apart; the reservoirs R
are those in which the suction is instantly made by the column T. R¹ are the
reservoirs in which the pressure is momentarily made by the column T¹, the reser-
voirs R fill, and those R₁ empty, and so on in succession in an inverse sense.
Figs. 3 and 4 are a plan and section of the reservoirs.
Fig. 5 is one of the reservoirs with retaining valve to prevent the tube I unpriming.
This valve may be replaced by a valve of any form fulfilling the same office as
the former, and may admit of the suppression of the reservoir valve. Another
disposition having the same effect is shown.
Fig. 6, the apparatus taking another form.
Fig. 7, section of the air cylinder showing the piston and the rods governing the
equilibrium valves serving to equipoise the air in the columns T, T', and reservoirs
R, R, after the stroke of the piston; in effect, the air after causing an ascent of
water preserves in the column Ta depression equal to a fourth of an atmosphere,
and in the column T" a pressure of a like power; if therefore there are no valves, it
is necessary that the piston should return in the middle of its stroke or course, to
transform the pressure into depression, and vice versa, which is avoided by the
valves since as soon as the piston reaches the end of its course the action of the
rods instantly opens the two valves, and the air enters the column where the
vacuum exists, and that where the pressure is, sends the excess in the atmosphere;
the air therefore is in an ambient state in the two columns, and the piston in
beginning its course at once commences its useful effect; these valves are not
indispensable, and their absence only takes a slight force from the motor, but it
requires a cylinder of double capacity, which is inconvenient, and renders the
valves preferable. The capacity of the cylinder should be a fourth of the cube

page_text: produced by the capacity of one of the air columns plus the space become free in
half the reservoirs after the expulsion of the water.
Fig. 8 represents the combination of the cylinder with a pendulum moved by
hand for a domestic pump; the cylinder can be placed against the wall or otherwise,
and the piston may be actuated by a rotary fly, or in any other manner.
Fig. 9 are twin cylinders coupled to avoid the use of too large a one in certain
cases.
Fig. 10 represents a lifting machine in a coal mine; the machine is mounted in a
shaft as shown, which is very easy, as it occupies an insignificant space in the shaft;
the motor and the cylinder are placed in a building some distance from the shaft
at L, whence the air columns are directed in the shaft. The air columns T, T¹, are
closed at their lower ends in the shaft, and their section decreasing from top to
bottom.
Fig. 11 is a dredge, the system of pump described being applied to a dredging
machine for dredging basins, canals, and rivers. This machine which is an exact
reproduction of the pump has, if desired, and as represented, its reservoirs closer
together, which admits with the same force of lifting matters of considerable
density, such as iron, lead, and so forth.
The apparatus would naturally vary in dimensions to suit the purpose to which
it was applied, as would also the materials of its construction, which would be
selected as the most suitable.
A mechanical disaggregator consisting of picks breaking up the earth is added to
the machine to assist its removal by the pump. The valves may be placed quite at
the top, as shown by Fig. 1, or at the lower part, as in Fig. 3.
Finally, what we claim as our Invention is,-
1. The disposition of the air cylinder, one of the faces of whose piston forces the
air, whilst the other face sucks it.
2. The division of the height of the shaft, by placing reservoirs at every 5 metres
apart, whilst at the same time reserving to ourselves the option of separating them
more distantly, or bringing them closer together, should we deem it desirable, or as
the case may require.
3. The method of acting by suction and force by means of air, for raising water
in the same tube, acting by the same force, half on each side.
4. The mode of raising solid matters without their passing through the body of
the pump.
5. The use of the pump for dredging rivers, canals, and so on.
In witness whereof, we, the said Docile Dutot and Edmond Colette, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this First day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
DOCILE DUTOT. (LS.)
E. COLETTE.
(LS)