IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING LIQUIDS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PUMPS OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING LIQUIDS." A communication from
abroad by Jules Bretonnière, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING LIQUIDS."
A communication from abroad by Jules Bretonnière, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
This Invention relates to an improved pump working with a reciprocating.column
of water in such a manner that under the direct action of steam the pump operates
by pulsations, imitating the arterial pulsations in the human body.
The principal moving parts of the pulsator constructed according to this Inven-
tion consist of a diaphragm of india-rubber cloth, separating the water from the
working steam, three small valves, by preference of brass, for the distribution of the
steam, and two large valves of india-rubber for the water.
The continuity of the movement of the principal moving parts herein-before
referred to and the expansion of the steam are ensured by the pressure of the steam
combined with the effect of columns of water acting as inert bodies, that is to say,
restoring at certain parts of their movement a force previously imparted to them
after the manner of the pendulum in its oscillations, the fly wheel in its rotary
motion, and the hydraulic ram in its strokes or impulses.
In carrying out this Invention the apparatus is constructed with a working
chamber in the form, say, for example, of a flattened sphere divided internally by a
flexible diaphragm having a rigid disc in the centre. This chamber is provided
with an orifice for the admission of steam on one side of the diaphragm, and on the

page_text: other side, with an orifice for the admission of water. The latter orifice is connected
-with-a-pipe having two branches, one of which provided with a suitable suction
valve is in communication with the water to be elevated, and-the-other-terminating
in a suitable discharge valve is connected with a cistern for the reception of the
water elevated by the apparatus. This branch is also provided with a small pipe
having a cock, by-means-of-which the part below the discharge valve may be placed
in communication with the cistern above the said valve at pleasure, and it is also-in-
certain cases connected with-a valve-communicating with the steam exhaust pipe
herein-after referred to.
The orifice for the admission of steam is connected with a steam chamber or
passage provided at one part with a steam inlet-valve,-by-means_of_which it may
be placed in communication with a steam generator and a purging valve for dis-
charging water of condensation, and at another part with a steam exhaust valve,
the stem of which is connected to a flexible diaphragm exposed to the pressure of
the atmosphere, the said valve communicating with the exhaust pipe herein-before
referred to.
The apparatus operates in the following manner :—
For the purpose of starting and working the apparatus the following operations
are to be performed :-
Let it be assumed that the apparatus is primed, that is to say, that water is
provided in the cistern above the discharge valve or in the force pipe, in case the
apparatus is used as a force pump, and that the cock provided in the pipe connecting
the part of the apparatus above the discharge valve with the part below this vaive
is opened; let it also be assumed that the water of condensation accumulated in the
steam chamber while the apparatus was at rest has been allowed to escape through
the purging valve; then when steam is admitted to the apparatus it will pass by the
open steam inlet valve into the steam chamber communicating with the orifice
leading to the working chamber of the pump, and will suddenly close the steam
exhaust valve situate in the steam chamber beyond the orifice leading to the
working chamber. The steam will then be compelled to pass into the working
chamber under the flexible diaphragm provided in the said chamber, first causing
the flexible material to bulge upwards all round the rigid disc, and then raising the
disc itself, expelling the water through the discharge valve. The disc in the centre
of the diaphragm is provided with a rod resting on the steam inlet valve, and when
the steam has lifted the disc for a certain distance the pressure of the rod on the
valve being removed the latter closes under the action of a spring with which it is
provided, and prevents any further admission of steam. Expansion of the steam
already admitted will then commence, and will continue to lift the diaphragm and
expel the water from the working chamber until its pressure becomes less than that
of the atmosphere, assisted, if required, by a spring acting upon a small diaphragm
of india-rubber cloth situate above and connected to the exhaust valve. This
pressure of the atmosphere in combination with a spring, if required, will then
depress this diaphragm and open the steam exhaust valve, allowing the steam to
escape into the exhaust pipe, where it will lift the valve with which the said pipe
is provided at its upper extremity, and pass into the pipe containing the water
lifted by the apparatus and there will be condensed. As the steam escapes from
the space underneath the diaphragm in the working chamber during the process of
condensation the diaphragm will sink, and the space above it will be filled in the
first place with water from the upper part of the discharge pipe, and in the second
place with water drawn up through the suction pipe. When the disc in the centre
of the diaphragm reaches the bottom of the chamber the rod attached to it, as
herein-before described, will rest upon the valve for the admission of steam, the
flexible part of the diaphragm continuing to sink until it rests upon the lower
surface of the working chamber, and when the weight of the column of water drawn
up through the suction pipe is sufficient to overcome by its pressure upon the disc
in the centre of the diaphragm the pressure of the steam upon the steam inlet valve

page_text: this valve will suddenly open, and the series of operations herein-before described
will be re-commenced, and so on in succession.
It has been assumed that the cock in the pipe herein-before referred to connecting
the parts of the apparatus above and below the discharge valve was only momentarily
opened.
This cock, which served in the first place to prime the apparatus, also consists in
the working until the air which may have entered the apparatus or the suction
pipe while the apparatus was at rest is expelled, but as soon as the pump after some
indications of irregularity arising from the presence of an excess of air has assumed
its normal rhythmical action it is advisable to close the cock. Neglect of this
precaution however would have no other effect than to diminish the delivery of the
apparatus.
The internal metallic surfaces of the apparatus with which the steam comes in
contact in passing from the steam inlet valve to the steam outlet or exhaust valve
may be coated with a substance forming an imperfect conductor of heat, such for
example as india-rubber, enamel, lead, and the like.
In certain cases the exhaust pipe may be connected with a pipe terminating in a
valve opening either into the atmosphere, the suction pipe, a tank of water, or into
a condenser.
When the liquid to be elevated is under pressure relatively to the pump, that is
to say, when it is situate at a higher level than the discharge valve, the apparatus
not being required to exhaust or draw up water, there will be no necessity for con-
densing the steain in the liquid to be elevated, and it may then be discharged into
the atmosphere after passing the steam exhaust valve. The valve and valve box at
the extremity of the exhaust pipe will likewise be dispensed with.
The small flexible diaphragm above the steam exhaust valve and the two flanges
between which it is secured may also be dispensed with. The steam exhaust valve
may be retained in a modified or unmodified form, and with or without a spiral or
other spring, and a cock may be provided enabling the part of the apparatus situate
immediately below the discharge valve to be placed in communication with the
atmosphere.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal-Patent Office-on-the-1st
May 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS-IN-PUMPS-OR-APPARATUS_FOR_RAISING LIQUIDS.”
A communication from abroad by Jules Bretonnière, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
The said Invention relates to an improved pump working with a reciprocating
column of water-in-such-a-manner that under the direct action of steam the pump
operates by pulsations, imitating the arterial pulsations in the human body. The
apparatus thus constructed it is proposed to designate a "pulsator." The principal
moving parts of the apparatus consist of a diaphragm of india-rubber cloth or other
suitable flexible material, separating the water from the working steam, three small
valves (say, for example, of brass) for the distribution of the steam, and two large
valves (which may be composed of india-rubber or other suitable flexible material)
for the water.
The continuity of the movement of the principal moving parts herein-before
referred to and the expansion of the steam are ensured by the pressure of the steam,
combined with the effect of columns of water acting as inert bodies, that is to say,
restoring at certain parts of their movement a force previously imparted to them
after the manner of the pendulum in its oscillations, the fly wheel in its rotary
motion, and the hydraulic ram in its strokes or impulses.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is a general view of the
apparatus, showing all the parts in elevation and section arranged in the same plane
in order to more clearly illustrate the action of the parts; and Figures 2 and 3 (on
Sheet 2) are respectively a sectional elevation and corresponding plan showing the
principal parts drawn to a larger scale, as constructed and arranged for working
the Invention in practice.
The apparatus is constructed with a working chamber A, divided internally by
a flexible diaphragm a, having a rigid disc b in the centre. This chamber is
provided with an orifice c for the admission of water on one side of the diaphragm,
and with an orifice d for the admission of steam on the opposite side of the said
diaphragm. The orifice c is connected with a pipe B, having two branches C, C¹;
the branch C, provided with a suction valve e, is in communication with the water
to be elevated at D (Figure 1), and the branch C₁, provided with a discharge
valve f, is connected with a cistern E (Figure 1) for the reception of the water
elevated by the apparatus. This branch is also provided with a small pipe g, having
a cock g', by means of which the part below the discharge valve f may be placed in
communication with the part above the said valve when required.
The orifice d for the admission of steam is connected with a steam chamber or
passage i, fitted with a steam inlet valve k, by means of which the said orifice may
be placed in communication with a steam generator through a suitable pipe j, which
may be provided with a manometer H and stop valves o, as shewn in Figure 2, and
a purging valve for discharging water of condensation. The passage i is also
provided with a steam exhaust valve m communicating with an exhaust pipe G,
and the stem of which is connected to a flexible diaphragm n exposed to the pressure
of the atmosphere.
The apparatus operates in the following manner :-
For the purpose of starting and working the apparatus the following operations
aré to be performed:-
Let it be assumed that the pulsator is primed, that is to say, that water is provided a

page_text: in the cistern above the discharge valve f, or in the force pipe (in case the apparatus
is used as a force pump), and that the cock g¹ provided in the pipe g is opened so
as to place the part of the apparatus above the valve f temporarily in communica-
tion with the part below the said valve.
Let it be also assumed that the water of condensation accumulated in the steam
chamber while the apparatus was at rest has been allowed to escape through the
purging valve; when then steam is admitted to the apparatus it will pass by the
open steam inlet valve k, and will suddenly close the steam exhaust valve m situate
in the chamber i. The steam will then be compelled to pass into the chamber A and
under the flexible diaphragm a, first causing the flexible material to bulge upwards
all round the disc b, and expelling the water through the discharge valve f. When
the flexible part of the diaphragm has assumed the position indicated by dotted
lines in Figures 1 and 2 the disc b will begin to rise, drawing with it a pendent
rod b' with which it is provided, and which rests upon the valve k, and when
the steam has lifted the said disc for a certain distance, the pressure of the rod b'
on the valve being removed, the latter closes under the action of a spring k¹, and
prevents any further admission of steam. The steam already admitted will then
commence to expand, and will continue to lift the diaphragm and expel the water
from the chamber A until its pressure becomes less than that of the atmosphere,
assisted, if required, by a spring acting upon the small diaphragm n connected to
the exhaust valve m. The pressure of the atmosphere in combination with the
spring if required, as before mentioned, will then act upon the diaphragm n and
open the steam exhaust valve m, allowing the steam to escape into the exhaust
pipe G, where it will open a valve fitted therein, and become condensed by
coming in contact with the water lifted by the pump. As the steam escapes from
the space underneath the diaphragm a in the chamber A during the process of
condensation the diaphragm will sink, and the space above it will be filled first
with water from the discharge pipe, and then with water drawn up through the
suction pipe. When the disc b arrives at the bottom of the chamber the rod b¹
will again rest upon the valve ; the flexible part of the diaphragm continuing to
sink until it rests upon the lower surface of the chamber A, and when the weight of the
column of water drawn up through the suction pipe C is sufficient to overcome by
its pressure upon the disc b in the centre of the diaphragm & the pressure of the
steam upon the steam inlet valve l, this valve will suddenly open, and the series of
operations herein-before described will be re-commenced, and so on in succession.
It has been assumed that the cock g' in the pipe y connecting the parts of the
apparatus above and below the discharge valve f was only temporarily opened.
This cock, which served in the first place to prime the pulsator, also assists in
the working until the air which may have entered the apparatus or the suction
pipe while the apparatus was at rest is expelled, but as soon as the pump after some
indications of irregularity arising from the presence of an excess of air has assumed
its normal periodical action it is advisable to close the cock g². Neglect of this
precaution however would have no other effect than to diminish the delivery of the
apparatus.
The internal metallic surfaces of the apparatus with which the steam comes in
contact in passing from the steam inlet valve k to the steam outlet or exhaust
valve m may be coated with a substance forming an imperfect conductor of heat,
such for example as india-rubber, or enamel, or, what is preferable, sheets of lead or
any alloy possessing like properties.
The Invention may be carried out with the use of low-pressure steam working
with little or no expansion, as well as with high-pressure steam (at six or seven
atmospheres, for example) working with a considerable amount of expansion,
according to circumstances. When high pressure steam is employed it will be
necessary to provide diaphragms (which may readily be procured) capable of
resisting a high degree of temperature, say, for example, 170° centigrade and
upwards.
In some cases the exhaust pipe G may be connected with a pipe terminating

page_text: a valve opening clone spree, one suction P*P
-into-a-condeuser..
When the liquid to be elevated is under pressure relatively to the pump, that is
to say, when it is situate at a higher level than the discharge valve f, in which
case the pulsator is not required to exhaust or draw up water, there will be no
necessity for condensing-the-steain-in-the-liquid to be elevated, and it may then be
discharged into the atmosphere after passing the steam exhaust valve m. The
valve h at the extremity of the exhaust pipe G may likewise in that case be dispensed
with.
The flexible diaphragm n and the two flanges between which it is secured may
also be dispensed with, in which case a spring of suitable-tension-may-be-provided
for the purpose of opening the exhaust valve m, the latter being retained, either
modified or not, as desired.
The cock may be dispensed with, and another cock be employed for the purpose
of placing the part of the apparatus situate immediately below the discharge valve f
in communication with the atmosphere.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore clain as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The system or mode of raising liquids by the employment of pumps or
apparatus operating by pulsations under the action of steam intermittently supplied
at one side of a flexible diaphragm in a suitable chamber, at the opposite side of
which diaphragm is drawn or admitted the liquid to be raised, the pump or apparatus
being provided with valves all arranged in combination the one with the other and
with the diaphragm so as to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before described.
Second. The general arrangement and combination of parts forming a pump or
apparatus for raising liquids, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated
by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifi
cation set my hand and seal, the First day of May, One thousand eight
☑✓ hundred and seventy-nine.,
TATT UGOVT
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)