Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Compressing Air, Gases, or other Elastic Fluids.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1889-Accepted, 4th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Compressing Air,
Gases, or other Elastic Fluids.
I, CHARLES FREDERICK HIGGITT HAYES, of 130 The Grove, Stratford in the County
of Essex, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:―
My invention relates to a construction and arrangement of Pumps for compressing
Air, Gases, or other elastic fluids by stages, and is chiefly designed to further improve
their efficiency and simplicity.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will describe it as applied
to an Apparatus for compressing Air by two stages.
I provide two cylinders, which may be placed in a line, side by side, or otherwise,
and vertically, horizontally, or in any desired position.-The first cylinder is larger
than the second in a proportion which may be varied according to requirement.-I
fit these two cylinders with pistons or plungers suitably packed either by passing
through glands or by having their packing self-contained, or the two methods may be
combined.
These pistons or plungers are connected to a slotted crosshead, or crossheads,
working in guides, and actuated by a crank, or cranks, which passes through the slot,
or slots, in the crosshead or crossheads, and is driven by any available motive power.-
When the two cylinders are arranged in line with each other I prefer to use only
one crosshead, and connect the pistons or plungers to it, one at either end, although
I may use a separate crosshead for each.-Proper bearings for the crank shaft and
suitable lubricating arrangements for the apparatas are provided throughout.
The cylinders are placed in a tank or tanks of convenient form, through which is
caused to circalate water for cooling purposes.-In the tanks also are coils of tubing
for carrying off the Compressed Air and effectually cooling it in its passage.
Each cylinder is fitted with a suction and delivery valve system of peculiar con-
struction, consisting of, in the case of the first cylinder, a large valve through which
the Air is drawn into the cylinder having a tubular shank or stem which is made to
contain the delivery valve ;-through this the Air, having undergone it's first stage of
compression by the piston or plunger, is discharged into the cooling coil, passing
thence to the second or smaller cylinder which is bored out somewhat larger at it's
top end so as to allow of a sleeve being fitted well into it, but free to move a little
longitudinally-One end of this sleeve is open, but the other is a partially closed
end, having only a hole large enough to admit of the free inlet of Air of the first
compression. The outer face of the partially closed end of this sleeve is coned out
to act as a valve, and provided with a suitable valve-seat.-The Air, after having under-
gone it's second stage of compression returns through the hole in the end of the sleeve
valve, and passes through a small delivery valve into the second cooling coil, and
thence to the receiver. The two small delivery valves are preferably of a cylindrical
shape, coned at one end and provided with suitable passages for the Compressed Air.
All the valves may be held down on to their respective seats by means of springs;-
and I sometimes, by a modification of my invention, use ordinary valves in combination
with the other parts of the Apparatus in lieu of the peculiar valves herein before
described.
By means of the arrangement and construction of Compressor which I have herein
described I can obviate, as will be seen, the necessity for using connecting rods, and
at the same time produce an economical and simple Apparatus, but I may, by a
modification of my invention, sometimes use connecting rods, if in particular
instances it is considered desirable, as may possibly be with some of the larger sizes

page_text: of this type of Compressing Apparatus, and in such cases, instead of the slot in the
cross-head and the crank passing through it, I bring a connecting rod from the crank,
(which may be arranged in any convenient position) to the cross-head, and couple
up in the ordinary manner, all the other parts of the Apparatus remaining essentially
the same.
Although I have described my invention as applied to a two stage Compressor it
is obvious that I can cause the Air to be compressed by more stages, and for this
purpose may use two or more cranks with the requisite number of pistons or plungers
and cylinders &c. as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 25th day of January 1889
CHARLES FREDERICK HIGGITT HAYES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Compressing Air,
Gases, or other Elastic Fluids.
I CHARLES FREDERICK HIGGITT HAYES of 30 Manbey Grove Stratford in the County
of Essex, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to a construction and arrangement of Pumps for Compressing
Air Gases or other elastic fluids by stages the object which I have in view being to
arrange them in simple and compact form and to improve their efficiency. In order
that my Invention may be clearly understood I will describe it as applied to an
apparatus for compressing air or Gas by two stages as follows:
I provide two cylinders which may be placed in a line with each other side by
side, or otherwise, and vertically, horizontally, or at any desired angle and position.
The first cylinder is larger than the second in a proportion which may be varied
according to requirement. I fit these two cylinders with pistons or plungers suitably
packed either by passing through glands or stuffing-boxes or having their packing
self contained, or the two methods may be combined. These pistons or plungers are
connected to a slotted crosshead or crossheads working in guides and actuated by a
crank or cranks passing through the slot or slots in the crosshead or crossheads and
driven by any available motive power. When the two cylinders are arranged in line
with each other I prefer to use only one crosshead and connect the pistons or
plungers to it one at either end although I may use a separate crosshead for each.
Proper bearings for the crank shaft and suitable lubricating arrangements for the
apparatus are provided throughout.
The cylinders are placed in a tank or tanks of convenient form through which is
made to circulate water for cooling purposes. In the tanks also, and submerged in
the water, are coils of tubing for carrying off the compressed Air or Gas and
effectually cooling it in its passage. Each cylinder is fitted with a suction and a
delivery valve system of peculiar construction consisting of in the case of the first
cylinder a large valve through which the Air or Gas is drawn into the cylinder having
a tubular shank or stem; This shank or stem contains in its interior the delivery
valve, and through this the Air or Gas having undergone its first stage of com-
pression by the piston or plunger is discharged into the cooling coil passing thence
to the second or smaller cylinder. This cylinder is bored out somewhat larger at the
valve end so as to allow of a sleeve being fitted well into it but free to move a little
longitudinally. One end of this sleeve is open but the other is a partially closed
end having only a hole large enough to admit of the free inlet of Air or Gas of the
first compression; the outer face of this partially closed end is coned to act as a
valve and is provided with a suitable valve seat. The Air or Gas having undergone
its second stage of compression returns through the hole in the end of the sleeve
valve and passes through a delivery valve into the second cooling coil and thence
to the receiver. The two delivery valves (as also the suction) are preferably of a

page_text: cylindrical shape coned at one end and provided with suitable passages for the com-
pressed air or Gas. All the valves may be held firmly on to their respective seats
by means of springs and I sometimes by a modification of my Invention use ordinary
valves in combination with the other parts of the apparatus in lieu of the peculiar
valves herein before described. By means of the arrangement and construction of
compressing apparatus which I have herein described I can obviate (as will be seen)
the necessity for using connecting rods and at the same time produce an economical
and simple apparatus; but I may, by a modification of my Invention, sometimes use
connecting rods if, in particular instances, it is consider'd desirable, as may possibly
be with some of the larger sizes of this type of compressing apparatus where very
high pressures are aimed at, and in such cases instead of the slot in the crosshead
and the crank passing through it I bring a connecting rod from the crank to the
crosshead or end of the piston or plunger and couple up in the ordinary manner, all
the other parts of the apparatus remaining essentially the same as described. Although
I have described my Invention as applied to a two stage compressing apparatus it is
obvious that I can cause the Air or Gas to be compressed by more stages until the
final pressure desired is reached, and for this purpose may use two or more cranks
with the requisite number of pistons or plungers cylinders and other parts as herein
before described.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1. represents a sectional side elevation;
Fig. 2. a front elevation partly sectional; Fig. 3. a plan; and Fig. 4. an underneath
plan of the lower part of the apparatus with the base-plate removed. The lower
cylinder B is fitted with a piston or plung r A' with arrangements for packing
preferably as shown at G, but which may be carried out in any convenient manner.
The plunger A is connected with the slotted crosshead F, and may be either in one
piece with it or fitted to it. The cylinder B is at its lower end fitted with a suction
valve a' by means of which the Air or Gas is taken into the cylinder by the upward
stroke of the plunger B. This valve is in direct communication with suitable inlets
for the Air or Gas, and in the drawings four pipes D₁ are shewn (any number, or
only one may be used) screw'd into the end of the cylinder and opening on to the
outside of the valve shank or stem which is provided with wings or bars so as to form
bearing surfaces to guide the valve a¹ and yet allow spaces through which the Air or
Gas can pass up to the cylinder B'. The outer ends of the pipes D¹ may be covered
with strainers or perforated caps as shewn at h so as to prevent dirt or dust being
drawn into the cylinder, that is when the surrounding atmospheric air is being com-
pressed and it is not required to connect anything else on to the pipes D'. When
however, Gas or other fluid is to be compressed, and it is necessary to connect up to
other arrangements these strainers or perforated caps / will of course not be required.
The pipes D pass through stuffing boxes g in the sides of the tank E'. The stem or
shank of the valve a' is bored out to receive the discharge valve & properly seated
as shewn immediately behind the small opening in the rear of the suction valve a¹;
through this small opening the Air or Gas compressed is forced and passes through
the opening in the interior of the valve 6. The end of the shank or stem of the
valve al has screw'd into it one end of a guide which also has a tubular stem bored
out to form a passage for the Compressed Air or Gas after it has passed the valve ';
this stem passes through packing and projects into the cover C₁ to which is
connected the cooling coil e'; thus the Compressed Air or Gas has a free passage into
the cooling coil. The stem on the guide must fit well into the bore of the cover (
but not tightly. The large end of the guide which is screw'd into the shank or
stem on the valve a¹ acts as a retaining piece and stop for the discharge valve band
also keeps in place the two springs s and s respectively which hold the valves a¹
and to their seats. Thus it will readily be seen that when the suction valve al
moves on the upward stroke of the plunger the discharge valve b', the guide piece ¿¹,
and the springs s and move with it; but, on the downward stroke of the plunger,
after the suction valve a' has got seated, only the discharge valve moves, allowing
the Air or Gas of the first compression to pass behind it and on into the cooling
coil. The cylinder B' with all the valve arrangements, the cooling coil, and part of

page_text: the supply pipes are kept immersed in the circulating water which is contained in
the tank E this tank although shewn in the drawings as form'd in the main casting
itself may of course he quite independant of it in which case the plate f¹ would not
he wanted. Mounted on strong supports, preferably forged pillars p, is a plate o
having an opening in its centre and carrying securely bolted to it the second com-
pression cylinder and the various parts connected with it. The opening in the centre
of the plate o is to allow for stuffing arrangements for the plunger A and in the
drawings it is shewn large enough to admit the flange of the socket a². The plate o̟
also acts as a tie to keep in position the two guides f. for the crosshead F. The second
compression cylinder B is on its under side bored for the stuffing immediately above
it is bored to fit the plunger A and above that it is bored out larger into which is
fitted thoroughly well but not tightly the sleeve valve a. fitting the plunger. The top
of the cylinder B is recessed to receive a packing t. through which the sleeve valve a.
works longitudinally; the cover C. on top of the cylinder B. has rising from it two
necks one for making connection with the cooling coil e. and containing the discharge
valve b, and the other neck D. is for connecting up to the end of the pipe which
conveys the Air or Gas of the first compression froin the lower cooling coil e¹; this
pipe is shewn in drawings passing up through one of the pillars p. the underside of
the cover C. acts as a seat for the sleeve valve a. which may be kept up to it by
the springs. A small hole for the discharge of the Compressed Air or Gas is made
through the centre of the cover C. Above is the discharge valve b. having wings or
bars between which the Air or Gas of the second compression can pass; this valve
may be held on to its seat by the spring . The sleeve valve a. is partially closed at
this end having only a hole large enough to freely admit the Air or Gas of the first
compression. On the downward stroke of the plunger A the Air or Gas of the first
compression is drawn into the cylinder or sleeve a. through the valve, and on the
upstroke of the plunger the second compression is made and the Air or Gas forced
through the. hole in the centre of the cover C, through the valve b, into the cooling
coil e, and away to the receiver which may he connected to the coil at d. The whole
of this second compression arrangement is immersed in the circulating water in the
tank E which may be constructed in any convenient manner and form, as in the case
also of the lower tank E. The plunger A may be either in one piece with the cross-
head F. or distinct and connected to it by the cottar k. or in any convenient
inanner.
The crosshead F. is slotted of sufficient length to receive the motion of the crank 1.
and is fitted with a sliding block n. preferably in halves and bored to fit the crank 1.
The crank shaft is mounted in bearings m. which may be either distinct from or part
of the main casting. q' is a fly wheel. q. 9. are driving pulleys but any available
motive power may be used and the apparatus may be worked by an engine direct.
Having now particularly described and ascertain'd the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be perform'd, 1 declare that what 1
claim is
1. The construction and use of a suction valve having a cavity in its shank or
stem containing a delivery or discharge valve in combination with the other parts of
a compressing or other apparatus, substantially as herein described.
2. The construction and use of a valve having a sleeve fitting into but free to move
in a cylinder, and itself forming the true cylinder in combination with the other
parts of a compressing or other apparatus, substantially as herein described.
3. The construction and use of a slotted crosshead with a crank passing through it
and operating it in combination with a compressing apparatus or force pump,
substantially as herein described.
Dated this Twenty-third day of November 1889.
CHARLES FREDERICK HIGGITT HAYES.