Improvements in Hydraulic Rams, Water Engines, and Pumps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Rams, Water Engines, and Pumps.
1. JAMES KEITH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E. of 57 Holborn Viaduct, in the City
of London, Gas, Hydraulic, Heating and Ventilating Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention which relates to hydraulic rams, water engines and pumps,
has for its object the provision of a device designed to replace the usual "snifter
or air admission valve and to pump air into the air vessel of the ram or other
engine.
The improved device consists of a flexible diaphragm which is preferably cupped
and which is secured upon a hollow plug screwed into the body and communicating
with the water space of the ram, engine or pump or between said plug and a valve
casing or pipe communicating with the atmosphere and with the air vessel of the
ram or other engine. The meeting faces of the plug and valve casing, which are
coupled together with the diaphragm secured between them around its edges, are
of concave form or hollowed out so that the diaphragm is free to vibrate or move
backwards and forwards under the shock and recoil of the water in the ram, the
diaphragm always inclining to return automatically to its original cupped position
after the outward movement or shock. The inward movement of the diaphragm
creates a partial vacuum in the valve casing whereby air is drawn thereinto through
an orifice covered by a valve opening inwards and the outward movement of the
diaphragm compresses the air and drives it through an orifice provided with a
non-return valve into the pipe leading to the air vessel.
In a modification, in lieu of the flexible diaphragm arrangement, two solid
plungers or pistons are used one acted on by the water in the ram or other motor,
and one for drawing in and forcing the air into the air vessel, these plungers working
in a valve casing or in cylinders connected but having an air space between them,
the air cylinder having inlet and outlet valves the same as in-the diaphragm
arrangement.
In this arrangement a spring is placed between the plungers and so arranged,
that it is in tension when the pistons are forced outwards or upwards by the shock
or concussion, and that when expanded it acts on the pistons so as to bring them
back when the shock has been spent, and so create, at the same time, the partial
vacuum in the air cylinder for drawing in the air.
The pistons are kept perfectly water and air tight by leather or other cups or
packing, and the air piston is smaller in diameter than the piston acted on by the
water, in order to obtain increase of shock or force on the water side and less
resistance on the air side in the case of both pistons or plungers.
Dated thie 25th day of April 1894
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Hydraulic Rams, Water Engines, and Pumps.
1, JAMES KEITH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., of 57 Holborn Viaduct, in the City
of London, Gas, Hydraulic, Heating and Ventilating Engineer, 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 which relates to hydraulic rams, water engines and pumps,
has for its object the provision of a device designed to replace the usual "snifter
or air admission valve and to pump air into the air vessel of the ram or other
engine.
The invention is illustrated in vertical section at Figure 1, in plan at Figure 2,
in end view at Figure 3, and in plan of various details at Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Figures 8 and 9 are vertical sections of modifications of the apparatus and
Figure 10 shows its adaptation to a self acting hydraulic rain.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 the improved device consists of a flexible
diaphragm A which is preferably cupped and which is secured upon a hollow
plug B screwed into the body and communicating with the water space of the ram,
engine or pump, or between said plug B and a valve casing or pipe communi-
cating with the atmosphere and with the air vessel of the ram or other engine.
The meeting faces of the plug B and valve casing C, which are coupled together
with the diaphragm A secured between them around its edges, are of concave form
or hollowed out as at b, c, so that the diaphragm A is free to vibrate or move
backwards and forwards under the shock and recoil of the water in the ram, the
diaphragm A always inclining to return automatically to its original cupped
position after the outward movement or shock. The inward movement of the
diaphragm A creates a partial vacuum in the valve casing C whereby air is drawn
thereinto through an orifice D covered by a valve E opening inwards, and the
outward movement of the diaphragm A compresses the air and drives it through
an orifice F provided with a non-return valve G into the pipe H leading to the
air vessel, both of these valves E and G being constructed as shown by Figure 6.
In Figures 4 and 7, J and I, are loose washers placed respectively behind the
valves E, G, and Figure 5 represents the screwed plugs K which hold the valves in
position.
Figure 8 is a slightly modified form of the apparatus in which the inlet and
outlet valves consist of rubber plugs L, M, held down upon conical seats N, O, by
small springs P, Q.
In a modification, illustrated by Figure 9, in lieu of the flexible diaphragm.
arrangement, two solid plungers or pistons R, S, are used, one R acted on by the
water in the ram or other motor, and one S for drawing in and forcing the air into
the air vessel, these plungers R, S, working in a valve casing or in cylinders T, U,
connected but having an air space V between them, the air cylinder U having an
outlet valve X, the same as in the diaphragm arrangement. The plunger S has a
cup leather which allows ingress of air and so forms the inlet valve. In this
arrangement a spring Y is placed between the plungers R, S, and so arranged, that
it is in tension when the pistons are forced outwards or upwards by the shock or
concussion, and that when expanded it-acts-on the pistons R, S, so as to bring them
back when the shock has been spent, and so create, at the same time, the partial
vacuum in the air cylinder for drawing in the air.
The pistons are kept perfectly water and air tight by leather or other cups or
packing r, s, and the air piston S is smaller in diameter than the piston R acted
on by the water, in order to obtain increase of shock or force on the water side
and less resistance on the air side in the case of both pistons or plungers.

page_text: 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 :-
The improved apparatus herein described under several modifications for auto-
matically charging or forcing air into the air vessels of hydraulic rams, water
engines, and pumps.
Linth fr
1005
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.