Improvements in Pumps, and in their Application to Fountains.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pumps, and in their Application to Fountains.
I, THOMAS HENRY RUSHTON, of 442 Victoria Street, Great Grimsby, in the
County of Lincoln, Electro-plate and Fountain 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, that
is to say:
This invention relates to a new or improved pump for raising or forcing liquids
or fluids generally but more especially applicable for actuating fountains such as
are employed as table ornaments or as means of disinfecting, deodorising, or
scenting the air of apartments, or for other similar purposes.
The accompanying sheet of drawings illustrates the application of my invention
to a table fountain,
Figure 1 being a vertical sectional elevation on line X-X of Figure 2,
Figure 2 a plan with dome C removed, and
Figure 3 a sectional plan on line Z-Z of Figure 1.
Similar letters of reference relate to like parts in all the figures of the drawings.
A is a tank or reservoir intended to contain water or other liquid. To the
bottom of this tank A is attached a framework consisting of a base B, columns B₁
and circular plate B² provided with a screwed ring B³ to which latter is screwed
a dome or air vessel C. C¹ is a tube open at its lower end and provided at its
upper end with any desired form of fountain jet C². The plate B² is provided
with two openings B surrounded by downwardly projecting flanges B³ to which
are securely attached the upper ends of two cylinders or barrels D D' of india-
rubber or other suitable flexible material. É E and F F¹ are flap or other
suitable valves acting respectively as inlet and outlet valves for the cylinders or
barrels D D. G' is a crank formed in the shaft G which latter is mounted in
pivot bearings G2 attached to the sides of the tank A as shown. G³ is a bar
attached to the shaft G and so shaped as to form a convenvient connection (by
means of the connecting rod G4 for example) with a motor of any suitable or
convenient type (but preferably an electric motor). The motor and its accessories
(not shown in the drawing) may be placed in a box or casing which may form an
ornamental base for the tank A.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Water or other liquid having been
placed in the tank A to any desired height above the level of the valves E E¹ and
the motor having been set in motion, a more or less rapid swinging or partial
rotatory motion is imparted to the crank G' through the bar G³ and connecting
rod G. Supposing this motion of the crank to be towards the cylinder D it will
press the latter against the fixed bar B* or other suitable abutment and cause the
cylinder to partially collapse as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and in full lines
in Figure 3, thereby reducing its capacity and forcing a portion of its contents
through the outlet valve F into the dome C. The crank G¹ now returning to its
central position the flexible cylinder D will return to its normal shape and in so
doing will cause the inlet valve E to open and admit water to the cylinder D to
take the place of that which has just been forced out through the outlet valve F.
The crank now being moved towards the cylinder D' the same operation takes
place as just described with reference to cylinder D, water being forced out through
the valve F and replaced by that which is drawn in through the valve E' on the
cylinder D' resuming its normal shape. Any suitable or convenient means may be
employed for the purpose of assisting the cylinders D and D¹ to quickly recover
their normal shape after the pressure of the crank G' is removed; for example I

page_text: sometimes employ closely_coiled wire springs H H¹ attached to the cylinders D
and D' by flexible bands H* as shown. And in order to protect the cylinders D
and D¹ from unnecessary wear, I prefer to provide an indiarubber sleeve Gon
that part of the crank which comes into contact with the said cylinders, and I also
prefer to similarly clothe the beforementioned fixed bar or abutment B* for the
same purpose. The cylinders D D¹ may be connected to the bars B*, or if
desired they may be freely suspended from the projecting flanges B³ of the
plate B².
It will be understood that by means of the rapid movement of the crank G¹ in
the manner above described, a more or less continuous flow of water is caused to
enter the dome or air vessel C and is ejected therefrom in a continuous stream
through the tube C¹ and jet C2 into the air whence it falls again into the tank or
reservoir A to be pumped up again and again so long as the motor continues to
work.
It will be obvious that the apparatus may be so arranged as to form a highly
ornamental table fountain, the materials and shape of the parts which are visible
being modified accordingly. Or it may be arranged in connection with the
actuation of fountains of larger size for conservatories, ferneries, gardens and the
like. I desire it to be understood that although I have described and illustrated
my improved pumps as applied to a fountain, I do not wish to limit my invention
to that particular class of apparatus as it is equally applicable to pumps for other
purposes, nor do I wish to limit the shape of the collapsible chambers to the
cylindrical form as shown, as these may be varied according to circumstances;
and instead of a crank G¹, cams or tappets may be employed for the purpose of
collapsing the chambers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In a fountain the employment of pumping devices constructed, arranged
and operating substantially as described, and illustrated in the drawings hereto
annexed.
Second. The new or improved pumping devices for fountains and other purposes
which consist of one or more collapsible chambers provided with inlet and outlet
valves, and operated substantially as described, and illustrated in the drawings
hereto annexed.
Dated this 31st day of March 1894.
T. H. RUSHTON,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.