Year: 1898

page_text: I, JAMES MCCULLOCH, of Portreath, in the Parish of Illogan, Cornwall,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to pumps adapted to be worked by steam or other fluid,
same, and
and is designed to simplify and cheapen the construction of the
furthermore to produce a pump which shall have greater capacity, relatively to
its size, than steam pumps as usually constructed.
An important feature of the said invention consists in the employment of a
single automatic distributing valve which is so arranged as to be cushioned at
each end of its stroke.
A further important feature of the invention consists in utilizing the middle
or intermediate portion of the steam piston as hereinafter described for the pur-
pose of controlling the exhaust of the fluid used to operate the valve.
In one construction of pump according to this invention, the steam cylinder
is arranged parallel with and beneath the pump chamber or cylinder, while the
distributing valve which is of the piston type is arranged by the side of the
steam cylinder and parallel therewith.
The pistons and valve are all contained in a single casing in which the neces-
sary passages or ports are formed and in the upper parts of which are the inlet
and outlet valves from the pump, these latter valves being lift valves having openings
formed in them, so that the water or other liquid (when the valves lift) can flow
through them as well as around their peripheries, thereby causing the valves
to have an ample area of opening with a small amount of lift, and reducing the
hammering and slip well known in water valves. The inlet and outlet valves
have each a single guide arranged at the top thereof comprising a socket in the
valve cover into which a vertical pin on the valve projects, thereby allowing the
valve seat to have a greater effective area than if the guide were arranged at
the bottom of the valve, or were passed through the valve and seat.
The steam piston is of considerable length and has in it two annular recesses
or ports which are arranged on each side of its middle portion. In other words
the piston consists of three discs or junks, one at each end and one in the middle
thereof, all of which are integrally connected together by contracted portions or
necks of small diameter, the spaces around these necks forming the annular
ports before referred to.
Between the valve and the piston the casing is provided with three ports or
passages analogous to those of an ordinary steam engine, but the intermediate
port which leads to the exhaust pipe is provided with an opening leading into
the steam cylinder at the middle thereof.
To prevent the live steam or working fluid, however, from escaping by this
intermediate port, the piston is made of such a length relatively to the stroke
that it never opens the said port to either end of the cylinder. One or other of

page_text: the annular intermediate ports of the piston however is constantly in communi-
cation with the said port to allow the exhaust working fluid of the valve to
escape.
The distributing valve, which is of the piston type and has hollowed out ends,
has an intermediate port for putting the ends of the cylinder to exhaust alter-
nately in the ordinary manner. The live steam ports are arranged one on either
side of this exhaust port, and in the opposite side of the valve to the said
exhaust port is a passage or slot in which works a pin to keep the valve from
turning in its seat.
In addition to the passage already referred to there are four other passages
arranged in pairs in the valve casing.
The passages of one pair serve to convey steam from the cylinder to operate
the valve. They are so arranged that they cross one another, that is to say the
passage which opens towards the right hand end of the cylinder, opening into
the left hand end of the valve chamber, and vice-versa. These passages are
arranged so that one or the other is uncovered by the piston and opened to the
steam space of the cylinder as the piston reaches the corresponding end of its
stroke, while at the same time the remaining passage is opened to exhaust by
the middle portion of the piston. Consequently a portion of the steam in the
cylinder rushes up one of these passages and reverses the valve, while the steam
that has just acted on the valve escapes through the other passage, which has
just been opened to exhaust.
The
The passages of the other pair extend directly between the two ends of the
valve chamber and serve to cushion the valve in its to and fro movements.
ends of these passages are not on a level with each other, but those of one passage
lie somewhat to one side, for example say to the left, of those of the other.
By means of these passages a portion of the steam which is reversing the valve
can escape to the opposite end of the valve casing very soon after the valve
has commenced to travel, thus effectually cushioning the valve. In addition to
this the valve casing may be provided with a suitable stop or buffer at each end,
such for instance as a metal disc or ring, having an india rubber ring behind it
to give it elasticity.
The piston rods of the pump chamber and the steam cylinder are in this case
connected together by a cross head working on suitable guides, which carry
elastic buffers or stops to arrest the movement without shock in starting the
pump or in case the water or other fluid supply should suddenly fail.
The inlet and outlet valves of the pump chamber are arranged symmetrically
on the upper part of the casing one pair towards each end of the pump.
The foregoing construction is more especially intended for a pump where
very great compactness is necessary, but obviously it may be modified in a variety
of ways, especially in cases where space is not so much a matter of importance.
For instance the steam cylinder and the pump chamber being separate cast-
ings might be arranged tandem fashion i.e. in line with one another. The work-
ing cylinder and the self acting valve controlling the same may be arranged
substantially in the same manner as that herein before described.
According to another modification two pump chambers might be arranged on
opposite sides of the working cylinder in order to balance the strains. In such a
case the inlet and outlet valves from the pump chambers might advantageously
be arranged at the sides of the pump.
Doted this 001 J
1 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Pumps.
I, JAMES MCCULLOCH, of Portreath, in the Parish of Illogan, Cornwall,
Engineer, 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 self acting pumps adapted to be worked by steam or
other fluid, and is designed to simplify and cheapen the construction of the same,
and furthermore to produce a pump which shall have greater capacity, relatively
to its size, than steam pumps as usually constructed.
An important feature of the said invention consists in the employment of a
single automatic distributing valve which is so arranged as to be cushioned at
each end of the stroke.
A further important feature of the invention consists in utilizing the middle
or intermediate portion of the steam piston as hereinafter described for the pur-
pose of controlling the exhaust of the fluid used to operate the valve.
The inlet and outlet valves to and from the pump are also specially constructed,
consisting in lifting parts having openings formed in them so that the water
(when they lift) can flow through them as well as around their peripheries, for
the purposes hereinafter stated."
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
more fully with reference to the
effect I will proceed to describe the same
accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan of one construction of pump according to this invention,
wherein the pump cylinder and the working cylinder are arranged side by side.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line a
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line y y Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line z z Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of a modified arrangement in which
the pump cylinder and working cylinder are arranged tandem fashion or in
line with one another.
Figure 7 is an end elevation of the distributing valve shewn in Figure 6.
Figure 8 is an horizontal section on line V V Figure 7 showing clearly the
arrangement of a push piece and buffer.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of an arrangement in which two pump cylinders
are employed one on each side of the working cylinder.
Figures 10 and 11 are respectively a vertical section and a horizontal section
of the said arrangement.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section showing to an enlarged scale a slight
modification in the construction of the distributing valve suitable more especially
for pumps of large size.
Referring more particularly to the pump shown in Figures 1 to 5, a is the
pump cylinder and b is the working or steam cylinder which is arranged parallel
with and beneath the pump cylinder. a and b are the pistons of the said
cylinders. c is the distributing valve which is of the piston type and is arranged
5 by the side of the steam cylinder and parallel therewith.
The steam piston is of considerable length and has in it two annular
recesses or ports 62 which are arranged on each side of its middle portion 63
In other words the piston consists of three discs or junks 63 64 and 65 one at each
end and one in the middle thereof, all of which are integrally connected together

page_text: by contracted portions or necks of small diameter, the spaces around these necks
forming the annular ports 62 hereinbefore referred to.
Between the valve cand the piston the casing is provided with three main
ports or passages dd, analogous to those of an ordinary steam engine.
The intermediate port which leads to the exhaust pipe is provided with an
opening leading into the steam cylinder at the middle thereof.
To prevent the live steam or working fluid, however, from escaping by this
intermediate port, the piston is made of such a length relatively to its stroke
that it never opens the said port to either end of the cylinder. One or other
of the annular intermediate ports 62 of the piston however, is constantly in com-
munication with the said port to allow the exhaust working fluid of the valve to
escape in the manner hereinafter described.
The distributing valve c has at each end thereof a space e into which motive
fluid is admitted for reversing the valve. This valve is of the piston type and
has hollow ends c', and has also an intermediate port for putting the ends of
the cylinder to exhaust alternately in the ordinary manner. The live steam
ports are arranged one on either side of this exhaust port as shown at c and at
the back or outer side of the valve is a passage or slot c in which fits a pin c³ to
keep the valve from turning in its seat.
In addition to the main passages already referred to there are four subsidiary
passages e e¹ f f arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the cylinder and the
valve casing.
In Figures 3, 6 and 10 the passages e and f are represented in dotted lines
of a different character to that of the dotted lines e¹ and f¹, as they are situated
on the side of the cylinder that has been removed in these views and are only
shewn in order to assist in clearly describing the working of the pump.
The passages e e¹ of one pair serve to conduct steam from the cylinder to
operate the valve. They are so arranged that they cross one another, that is
to say the passage d which opens toward the right hand end of the cylinder,
opens into the left hand end of the valve chamber, and vice-versa with the
passage e. These passages e el are arranged so that one or other of them is
uncovered by the piston and opened to the steam space of the cylinder as the
piston reaches the end of its stroke, while at the same time the remaining
passage is uncovered and opened to exhaust by the middle portion 63, of the
piston. Consequently assuming the parts to be in the position represented in
Figure 3 a portion of the steam in the cylinder will pass through the passage e
and reverse the valve by driving it from left to right, while the steam from the
right hand end of the valve chamber escapes through the passage el which has
just been opened to exhaust through the right hand annular passage by the
movement of the working piston into a position to connect the passage el with
the exhaust passage d
The other pair of passages f f¹ extend directly between the ends of the
valve chamber and serve to admit steam from one end of the valve chamber
to the other so as to cushion the valve in its to and fro movements. The ends
of the passage f lie somewhat to the right of those of the other passage f¹.
By means of these passages a portion of the steam which is reversing the valve
can escape to the opposite end of the valve casing very soon after the valve has
commenced to travel, thus effectually cushioning the valve. In addition to this,
the valve casing may be provided at each end with a suitable stop or buffer
such for instance as a metal disc or ring g having an india rubber ring g' behind
it to give it elasticity.
The piston rods of the pumps and the steam cylinders are connected together
by a cross head h working on suitable guides which carry the elastic buffers
or stops h² to arrest the movement without shock in starting the pump or in case
the water or other fluid supply should suddenly fail.
The inlet valves i and outlet valves of the pump chamber are arranged

page_text: symmetrically on the upper part of the casing one pair near each end of the
pump.
The pistons and the valves are all contained in a single casing in which are
formed the necessary passages or ports herein described and in the upper parts
of such casing the inlet valves and outlet valves of the pump are situated.
These consist of lifting pieces or valves proper having openings formed in
them, so that when they rise the water or other liquid can How through them as
well as around their peripheries, thereby causing the valves to have an ample
area of opening with a small amount of lift, and reducing the hammering and
slip well known in water valves. are the valve seats which have cross pieces
or bars serving to cover the openings when the valves are closed. The said
valves have each a guide arranged at the top thereof such guides comprising
a vertical pin which projects into a recess in the valve cover thereby allow-
ing the valve seat to have a greater effective area than if the guide were arranged
at the bottom of the valve, or were passed through the valve and seat.
The foregoing construction is more especially intended for a pump where com-
pactness is an object but obviously it may be modified in a variety of ways,
especially in cases where space is not so much a matter of importance.
For instance as shown in Figures 6 to 8 the steam cylinder and the pump
chamber may be separate castings and be arranged tandem fashion i.e. in line
with one another. In the example shown the working cylinder 6 and the self-
acting valve c controlling the same, are constructed substantially in the same
manner as that herein before described.
Rods or push pieces attached one to each end of the valve piston, extend
fluid tight through the end covers of the valve chamber and have cross pieces c
attached to their outer extremities. These cross pieces have their ends bent
at right angles so as to co-operate with the elastic cushioning pieces g¹ which are
arranged outside the ends of the valve chamber.
According to the modification shown in Figures 9 to 11 two pump chambers a
are employed arranged on opposite sides of the working cylinder 6 in order to
balance the stresses. In such a case the inlet and outlet valves i, of the pump
cylinders are arranged at the sides of the pump, instead of on the upper part
thereof as in the first mentioned arrangement.
In some cases as in pumps of large size the end area of the distributing valve
may be greater than is actually necessary for the steam to act on in order to /
reverse the valve, and consequently the valve would if constructed like those in
the previous arrangements be driven to and fro with undue force.
To overcome this difficulty the modified arrangement shown in Figure 12 may
be employed in which the hollow ends c¹ of the valve are reduced in area and
are adapted to work in bushings c formed on the end covers of the valve chest.
The buffers in this case consist of rubber or other elastic thimbles or rings c
fitted in the hollow ends of the valve. The ends of these rings are adapted to
strike against the projecting push pieces which latter extend fluid tight.
through the end covers of the valve chamber, and can be used for moving the
valve by hand when necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim in a self-acting fluid pressure pump is:-
1. The employment of a single automatic distributing piston-valve controlled
by means of passages arranged substantially as described.
2. The working piston provided with a central ring or junk and an annular
port on each side of such junk in combination with the passages communicating
with the valve chamber substantially as described for the purpose specified.
3. The inlet and outlet valves each comprising a lifting part having openings,
a correspondingly formed valve-seat, and a guide pin fixed in the top of the
lifting part to slide in a recess in the valve-cover, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The combination with the distributing valve of buffers provided with push-
pieces substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. A fluid pressure pump having its parts arranged constructed and operating
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, or to Figures 6 to 8,
or to Figures 9 to 11, or to Figure 12, of the accompanying drawings, for the
purpose specified.
Dated shin 20+1 ...
J
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.