IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPER- TAINING TO PUMPS FOR SHIPS' USE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hampson and James Kerr, both of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPER-
TAINING TO PUMPS FOR SHIPS' USE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hampson and James
Kerr at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th July 1877.
JAMES HAMPSON and JAMES KERR, both of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO PUMPS FOR SHIPS' USE, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
This Invention is designed with the object of making a pump easy of construction,
with few working parts, and not liable to get out of order. It consist of an
oscillating piston working in a cylinder, with the suction pipe so arranged that
the valves will always be immersed in water, and consequently never require
priming..
On the suction pipe we place a syphon, or, preferably, a modification of the
ordinary syphon, as hereafter described, so that the top of the syphon shall be at a
higher level than the upper valves of the pump. This syphon I usually make of a
simple closed box or tank, into which the suction pipe enters from the bottom and
rises up to a level above that of the valves in the adjoining pump.
From the bottom of the tank a pipe leads to a V shaped chamber, extending the
whole way along the bottom of the horizontal pump cylinder. This V has its apex
in the centre of the cylinder, but is cut away a little so as to allow the axis of the
oscillating piston, hereafter described, to coincide with the axis of the cylinder.
The two sides of the V are fitted with valves opening outward.
The oscillating piston, already described, consists usually of a simple plate with
grooved flanges on the edges and any suitable packing, and with valves on each
side of the axis opening upward. On the upper surface I place a projection, upon
which fits. the handle that works the machine, if worked by hand or the lever
connected with the engine, if worked by power

page_text: Of course, if desirable, the axis of the oscillating piston can be brought through
the cylinder ends and the pump worked from that point, but we prefer the former
plan as better. In the upper part of the cylinder, at a higher level than the utmost
range of the oscillating piston, I place the delivery aperture.
.-
The mode of action is extremely simple :--Oscillate the handle, and one side of
the piston goes up, drawing in water below it from the suction V chamber below.
At the same time the other side of the piston descends, and water flows through
the piston valve to the space above and out at the delivery pipe. At the next
oscillation the same thing occurs on the reverse sides; should the valves get choked
one has only to put the hand down through the orifice left for the handle, open or
unship the upper valves, and the lower are immediately below and get-at-able.
If the pump is left standing, the syphon chamber keeps it full, so that whatever
breaks there may be in the valves, they will still remain covered with water.
Of course, the apparatus might be made to work downwards instead of upwards,
but we prefer the mode described:
·SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Hampson and James Kerr in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th January 1878.
JAMES HAMPSON and JAMES KERR, both of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO PUMPS FOR SHIPS' USE, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
Figure 1 is an elevation, but without gear for working attached; Figure 2, plan;
Figure 3, vertical section.
Figure 4, plan with piston and syphon box cover removed.
Figure 5, plan of piston; Figure 6, section of same.
Figure 7, enlarged section of suction valves and seats.
This Invention is designed with the object of making a pump easy of construction,
with few working parts, and not liable to get out of order. It consists of an
oscillating piston working in a cylinder, with the suction pipe so arranged that
the valves will always be immersed in water, and consequently never require
priming.
On the suction pipe we place a syphon, or, preferably, a modification of the
ordinary syphon, as hereafter described, so that the top of the syphon shall be at
a higher level than the upper valves of the pump. This syphon we usually make
of a simple closed box or tank A, into which the suction pipe B enters from the
bottom and rises up to a level above that of the valves in the adjoining pump.
We usually place a grating at the top of the stand pipe, as shown in the Drawing,
to prevent solid matters in the water passing. to the pump and choking the valves.
By lifting off the cover of the syphon box the grating is accessible for cleaning.
From the bottom of the tank, a pipe leads to a V shaped chamber C extending
the whole way along the bottom of the horizontal pump cylinder. This V has its
apex in the centre of the cylinder, but is cut away a little so as to allow the axis
of the oscillating piston, hereafter described, to coincide with the axis of the cylinder:
The two sides of the V are fitted with the valves D, D³, opening outward.

page_text: The oscillating piston, already described, consists usually of a simple plate with
grooved flanges on the edges and any suitable packing, and with valves F, F¹, on
each side of the axis opening upward. On the upper surface we place a projection G,
upon which fits the handle H that works the machine, if worked by hand, or the
lever connected with the engine, if worked by power.
Of course, if desirable, the axis of the oscillating piston can be brought through
the cylinder ends and the pump worked from that point, but we prefer the former
plan as better. In the upper part of the cylinder, at a higher level than the utmost
range of the oscillating piston, we place the delivery aperture I.
The mode of action is extremely simple:-Oscillate the handle, and one side of
the piston goes up, drawing in water below it from the suction V chamber below.
At the same time the other side of the piston descends and water flows through the
piston valve to the space above, and out at the delivery pipe. At the next
oscillation, the same thing occurs on the reverse sides. Should the valves get choked
one has only to put the hand down through the orifice left for the handle, open or
unship the upper valves, and the lower are immediately below and get-at-able.
If the pump is left standing, the syphon chamber keeps it full, so that whatever
breaks there may be in the valves, they will still remain covered with water.
Of course, the apparatus might be made to work downwards instead of upwards,
but we prefer the mode described.
The details of the pump may be varied, if desired, but the plan shown will be
found simple, cheap, and effective.
Having now described our Invention, and the best modes known to us of carrying
it into effect, we wish it to be distinctly understood that we do not claim the
principle of working a pump by means of an oscillating piston or plunger, nor yet
the individual parts of the apparatus taken separately, but what we believe to
be knew, and desire to claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is,-
1st. The combination with an oscillating pump of a syphon stand pipe A, or
its mechanical equivalent, arranged so as to always maintain a level or body of
water above the pump valves, thus doing away with the necessity of priming.
2nd. The general arrangement of apparatus, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hampson, on behalf of myself and the
said James Kerr, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
eicht
Witness,
EDWARD G. COLTON,
Clerk to W. P. Thompson,
Patent Agent,
6, Lord St.,
L'pool.
JAMES HAMPSON. (L.S.)