IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eustace Wigzell and Joseph Pollit, Engineers, Bank
Foundry, Sowerby Bridge, in the County of York, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 4th January 1878, and dated the 27th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eustace Wigzell and Joseph
Pollit at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1877.
EUSTACE WIGZELL and JOSEPH POLLIT, Engineers, Bank Foundry, Sowerby
Bridge, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES."
Our Invention relates to improved air pumps fitted in the condensers of steam
engines, rendering unnecessary the use of the foot valve or valves heretofore
employed. For this purpose we fit in and near the bottom of a round, square, or
any suitably shaped condenser an air pump, whose barrel is made near the end of
the stroke with holes or openings cast, drilled, or cut round the barrel, or diagonally.
The other end of the barrel is made or fitted with a delivery valve box, in which
are fitted delivery valves or a delivery valve of the usual construction. The valves
or valve open in a delivery chamber or pipe, which is connected to the waste water
pipe.
The barrel or pump is fitted with a solid piston, or bucket, or with a short ram.
When the bucket or ram is at the end of the stroke, i.e., near the delivery valves
or valve, and the pump started, the bucket or ram travels towards the other end of
the air pump, forming a vacuum in the barrel, which causes, on the passage of the
bucket or ram over the holes or openings, the water and air in the condenser to
rush through the holes or openings into the barrel. On the return of the stroke the
bucket or ram forces the water and air through the delivery valves into the
delivery valve chamber or pipe, and through the waste water pipe.
By these means we construct a simple, effective, and light air pump, doing away
with the foot valves heretofore in general use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Eustace Wigzell and Joseph Pollit in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd January 1878.
EUSTACE WIGZELL and JOSEPH POLLIT, Engineers, Bank Foundry, Sowerby
Bridge, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES."
The said Invention relates to improved air pumps fitted in the condensers of
steam engines, rendering unnecessary the use of the foot valve or valves heretofore
employed. For this purpose we fit in and near the bottom of a round, square, or
any suitably shaped condenser an air pump, whose barrel is made near the end of
the stroke with holes or openings cast, drilled, or cut round the barrel, or diagonally.
The other end of the barrel is made or fitted with a delivery valve box, in which
are fitted delivery valves or a delivery valve of the usual construction. The valves
or valve open into a delivery chamber or pipe, which is connected to the waste
water pipe.
The barrel or pump is fitted with a solid piston, or bucket, or with a short ram.
When the bucket or ram is at the end of the stroke, that is to say, near the
delivery valves or valve, and the pump started, the bucket or ram travels towards
the other end of the air pump, forming a vacuum in the barrel, which causes (on the
passage of the bucket or ram over the holes or openings) the water and air in the
condenser to rush through the holes or openings into the barrel. On the return of
the stroke, the bucket or ram forces the water and air through the delivery valves
into the delivery valve chamber or pipe, and through the waste water pipe.
By these means we construct a simple, effective, and light air pump, doing away
with the foot valves heretofore in general use.
But in order to enable our improvements to be better understood, we will proceed
to more particularly describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing,
in which,―
Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of the improved air pump and
condenser.
Figure 2, front sectional elevation; and Figure 3, plan of the same.
Figure 4 represents a front section of delivery valve box and delivery valves.
Figure 5 represents a front elevation of injection regulator.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the Figures to represent similar parts.
In or near the bottom of a condenser A we fit an air pump barrel B, which is
secured by bolts and nuts to the condenser by a flange C, which fits the flange D of
a circular bearing E cast on the condenser. Near the end of the stroke of the
pump piston or bucket F are formed or cast openings or holes G, made by preference
diagonally. The other end of the pump barrel is fitted with a delivery chamber H,
in which is secured by bolts or nuts a plate I made with delivery valve seats J, on
which are fitted india-rubber valves K and valve guards L; on the front of the
delivery chamber H is fitted a door M; the chamber is also made with a branch
pipe N, to which is connected the waste water pipe.
The piston or bucket F is fitted on the pump rod O, which works through a long
stuffing box P to prevent the escape of water. The stuffing box is formed on a
cover bolted to the flange R cast on the condenser A; the condenser is also made
with an injection water passage S, which is fitted with an injection cock Tand
regulator Ü.
When the piston or bucket F is at the end of the stroke, that is to say, near
the delivery valves, and the pump started, the piston or bucket F travels towards
the end of the pump barrel, forming a vacuum in the barrel, causing, on the passage
of the piston or bucket F over the openings G, the water and air in the condenser
A to rush through the openings G into the barrel B. On the return of the stroke
the piston or bucket F forces the water and air through the delivery valves K
into the delivery chamber H, and through the branch pipe N and waste water
pipe.

page_text: The improved air pump can be fitted to condensers of any kind of steam engines,
the horizontal engine having been shewn by preference; and an ordinary delivery
valve may be used, and also a short ram instead of the piston.
Having thus described our improvements and the best means we are acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what we do
claim is, the construction and employment of air pumps fitted in condensers of steam
engines, substantially as herein-before described and represented by the Drawing
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eustace Wigzell, for and on behalf of myself
and the said Joseph Pollit, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
W. H. GIBSON,
Bookkeeper,
Sowerby Bridge.
E. WIGZELL. (L.S.)