Improvements in and relating to Pumps and. the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept!, 1897-Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pumps and. the like..
I, BURCHARD THIOENS Mechanical Engineer, residing at 1376, Annunciation Street
New Orleans, Parish of Orleans, in the State of Louisiana, United. States of America,
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 relates to pumps and their equalizing valves; and has for its object
the prevention of the usual jarring and hammering noise caused by the parts of the
pump when the same is working at its full capacity;. by. reason of the accumulated
gases in the pump's chamber or chambers below. its discharge valve or valves. The
invention has distinct reference to pumps that do not lift, and wherein the liquid
enters the pump by its own gravitation as, for instance, pumps for conveying volatile
liquids, ammonia pumps for absorption ice machines, feed pumps for- boilers which
operate with very hot water, and pumps for operation with a vacuum chamber; as
when pumping condensed water from surface condensers, or sweet water and' sugar
from defecating pans and sugar, making machinery..
In pumps of the character above referred to, it is the purpose of this invention to
establish an automatic valve-controlled communication between the highest part of
the pump, below. its discharge valve or valves, and the highest part of the receiver or
vessel from which the pump receives its supply, and to provide such an arrangement
of equalizing valves that this communication will be always open to the suction side
of the pump during a stroke of the pump piston; and automatically closed on the
discharge side of the pump, thereby equalizing the pressure in the pump chamber
and receiver and allowing the liquid to fill the pump completely without obstruction
and consequent hammering from accumulation of gases in the pump chambers.
In pumps as ordinarily constructed and fitted such gases are usually liberated
during the suction stroke and accumulate in the upper parts of the pump chamber or
chambers, which prevents the liquid being pumped from entering and filling the
pump completely. In this manner the capacity of the pump is reduced; the purap
piston has to make more strokes, and a jarring or hammering action is induced,
which is extremely annoying and very destructive to the pumps working parts.
To obviate the above named difficulties and promote a steady uniform and
smooth working action of the pump is the purpose of my invention, the effect
being produced by an improved construction of pump and novel combination of its
parts as hereinafter more fully described.
In the annexed sheets of drawings the invention is practically illustrated, numerals
being used to indicate the various parts.
Fig. 1. is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the improved equalising, valve for.
pumps separated from the pump proper.
"
Fig 2 represents in sectional elevation a pump connected with a receiver and
fitted with the equalizing valve mechanism and its connections;, as shown in Fig: 1,
which is also connected to the receiver, and by which is established a:communication
between the highest part of the pump below its discharge valves and the highest
part of the receiver or vessel from which the pump is supplied.
Fig. 3 is a. sectional elevation showing how. the equalizing valve: mechanism is:

page_text: applied to the pump cover and not isolated, as shown in Fig 2, although its action
and working is identical.
Referring to the drawings the numeral 5 designates a valve casing having
partitions 6 and 7, Fig 1, arranged to divide the said casing into an upper central
induction chamber 8, and two lateral eduction chambers 9 and 10. The top of the
induction valve chamber 8 communicates through the pipe 11 with the highest
part of a receiver 12, Fig 2, from which a pump 13 receives its supply of the liquid
to be pumped.
The induction chamber 8 is in communication with the eduction chambers 9
and 10, Fig 1, by means of ports 14 arranged opposite each other in the dividing
partitions 6, the said chambers being controlled alternately by check valves 15 and 16,
so arranged that when one is open the other is closed or seated to prevent the passage
of the liquid through the eduction chamber on that side of the valve casing.
The eduction valve chambers 9 and 10 communicate through pipes 18 and 19
respectively with the pump chambers 20 and 21, at the highest part of the said
chambers, and below the pump discharge valves 22 and 23, which latter alternately
control the outflow of liquid to a discharge chamber 24, having an exhaust port 25,
Fig 2. A pipe 26 connects the lower part of the receiver 12 with a pump inlet
chamber 27, provided with valves 28 and 29 for controlling the flow of liquid from
said chamber, 27 into the chambers 20 and 21 alternately.
In the lower part of the pump, between the chambers 20 and 21, is a piston 30
operating in the lower cylindrical part of the said two chambers; the same being
driven and reciprocated by any suitable engine or motive power.
It will be seen clearly by reference to Fig 1 that the valve stem 17 is of such a
length that when either valve 15 or 16 is closed onto its seat the other valve will
be open, thus establishing communication between the upper part of the receiver 12
and the. pump chambers 20 and 21 alternately, so that the said receiver will be
always open to the suction end of the pump and closed to its discharge end; the
pump chambers 20 and 21 being arranged for alternate suction and discharge of
fluid.
The discharge stroke of the piston 30 closes the check valve 15 or 16, as the case
may be, and thereby positively opens the other check valve on the stem 17, so as to
establish communication between the suction end of the pump and the upper part of
the receiver 12, when the liquid to be pumped will fill the pump chamber 20 or 21
completely. On the return stroke of the piston the same operation will be repeated
through the chamber at the other end or side of the pump. By the automatic action
of the valve or valves 15 and 16 the pressure in the receiver 12 and pump 13 is
equalized in such a manner that the pump chambers will quickly fill, without
obstructive accumulation of gases and consequent kicking, pounding, or hammering,
in the working thereof. In many pumps this annoyance is very great, when
pumping volatile liquids, or very hot water, and often results in the breaking or
loosening of joints in the pipe lines and pump connections.
The use of this equalizing valve mechanism affords decided advantages in
connection with ammonia pumps for absorption ice machines. At present a stronger
solution than 28% cannot be easily pumped in summer while, with this equalizing
valve mechanism, a solution of thirty five per cent. or more may be circulated,
requiring only about one half of the liquid to be reheated in the generator, thereby
effecting a large economy in the saving of nearly one half the fuel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The combination with a pump and its source of supply of pressure equalizing
valve mechanism, consisting of a casing having an induction chamber for connection
with the supply for the pump, two eduction chambers for connection with the highest
part of the pump below its discharge valves, the said eduction chambers being on
opposite sides of the induction chamber and adapted to communicate therewith

page_text: through ports, and a double check valve automatically operated from the discharge
end of the pump to control communication between the pump supply and the pump
through the said induction chamber of the valve and one or the other of the said
eduction chambers alternately, for the purposes substantially as described and set
forth.
Second. The combination with a pump and its inlet and discharge passages of an
equalizing valve mechanisın, comprising an induction chamber to connect with the
highest part of a supply for the pump, two eduction chambers connecting with the
highest part of the pump below its discharge valves at the suction end and discharge
end, respectively, of said pump, and a double check valve automatically operated from
the discharge end of the pump to control communication between the pump supply
and the pump through the said induction chamber of the valve mechanism and one
or the other of its said eduction chambers, alternately substantially as described.
Third. The combination with a pump, and a receiver from which the pump is
supplied, of an equalizing valve comprising an induction chamber in communication
with the highest part of said receiver, two eduction chambers located on opposite
sides of the induction chainber and adapted to alternately communicate therewith
through ports, pipes that connect the said eduction chambers with the highest part
of the pump below its discharge valve or valves, and a double check valve for the
ports between the induction chamber and eduction chambers, the said check valve
being automatically operated from the discharge end of the pump to control
communication between the upper part of said receiver and the highest part of the
pump below its discharge valve or valves, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with a pump having two chambers arranged for suction
and discharge, alternately, each of said chambers being provided with an inlet valve
and a discharge valve, of a receiver from which the said pump is supplied, and a
double check valve having its casing connected with the highest part of the said
receiver and with the highest part of the said pump chambers below the discharge
valves of the pump and adapted to automatically control communication between
said receiver and the said pump chambers, alternately substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with a pump and its inlet and discharge passages, and a
receiver from which the pump is supplied, of an equalizing valve, comprising a valve
casing having an induction chamber connected with the highest part of said receiver,
and two eduction chambers connected with the highest part of the pump below its
discharge valves, and provided with a double check valve automatically controlling
cominunication between the said receiver and pump through the said induction
chamber of the valve casing and one or the other of its said eduction chambers,
alternately substantially as described.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham.
Also of Liverpool London & Manchester. Agents for Applicant.