IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER, THE SAME BEING APPLICABLE AS SHIP PUMPS
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Scratton at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th April 1876.
GEORGE SCRATTON, of Stickney, in the County of Lincoln, Clerk in Holy
Orders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER, THE SAME BEING
APPLICABLE AS SHIP PUMPS."
This Invention relates to certain combinations and arrangements of apparatus
and mechanism by means of which water can be raised in a continuous stream, the
same being especially applicable to pumps for raising water out of the holds of
ships.
A reservoir or cistern constructed of any suitable materials, and of any suitable
form, is provided for the purpose of being placed above the body of water which it
is desired to raise, the same having inlet valves placed therein to allow of the
entrance of the water when the apparatus is in action, as herein-after mentioned.
The reservoir or cistern is furnished with a cover or lid which is connected to the
former by means of a broad belt of leather, varnished canvas, vulcanized india-
rubber, or other suitable waterproof material, capable of being collapsed or expanded
in like manner to the sides of bellows as ordinarily constructed. A vertical shaft
is attached to the upper part of the before-mentioned lid or cover, by means of
which the latter, upon the requisite power being applied thereto, can be alternately
raised and depressed. This action is effected by means of well-known combinations
of mechanism and gearing, the primary motive power being derived from what
may be termed a
"horizontal windmill," that is to say, an arrangement of fans or
sails placed around a verticle shaft or axle capable of rotating, upon the surfaces of
which fans or sails the wind impinges, and causes the axle with the series of fans
or sails to rotate.
In the case of the adaptation of this Invention to ships the horizontal windmill
arrangement is placed in connection with one of the masts, the result being
that whichever way the wind may blow the windmill will be actuated, and by
means of the necessary intermediate mechanism and gearing the requisite vertical
motion is given to the shaft attached to the cover or lid of the reservoir or
cistern.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Assuming the cover or lid-to be
depressed, and caused to rest upon the top of the reservoir or cistern (in doing
which the air or a portion of the air below the cover or lid will have been expelled
through valves or contrivances arranged for that purpose), and then to be raised by
means of the power communicated for that purpose to the vertical shaft. The
[Price 201

page_text: water will be elevated into the reservoir or cistern through suitable pipes in
accordance with well-known principles, and upon the cover being again depressed,
the pressure exerted thereby upon the water in the reservoir or cistern causes the
same to flow through exit pipes or valves, which are provided for that purpose. The
apparatus may be arranged in a duplex manner, so as to act reciprocally, and thus
to keep up a continual flow of water.
The above described arrangement constitutes one method by which it is proposed
to utilize the power obtained by the horizontal wind apparatus herein-before
described, but the said Invention is not confined to such one method only, inasmuch
as the primary motive power and mechanism before mentioned may be made
available in connection with any suitable pumping apparatus.