Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Feed Water to Hydraulic Rams, Applicable to other Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Feed Water to Hydraulic
Rams, Applicable to other Purposes.
I, JACOB BEST of 23 and 24 Old Town Street, Plymouth, Sanitary and Hot Water
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 has for its object the construction and arrangement of apparatus for
automatically and intermittently supplying water to the feed or supply pipes of
hydraulic rams so that the smallest streams of water can be utilized for pumping.
The apparatus consists essentially of a tank or receiver communicating with the
stream, rivulet or other source of supply. Within this tank is a float moving in
vertical guides (the travel of which float is adjustable). Connected with this I provide
a valve with inlet at the bottom of the same to be operated by the float. When the
water reaches the required height the float will rise and the additional influx of the
water will cause the same to rise still further and thereby open the valve. I also
provide means or apparatus whereby the working period of the ram can be limited
at will.
In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood 1 have annexed to this
specification the accompanying drawing representing a sectional elevation of the tank
and its contents.
A is the tank, B is the pipe communicating with the source of supply, is the float
moving vertically in guides D D. Attached to the float is an arm or projection E,
which moves in a guide F, adjustable by set screws ff, thereby limiting the travel of
the float, and the time when the valve is lifted. G is the valve provided with an inlet
at the bottom and attached as shown, to the guide F aforesaid. This valve by its
vertical movement allows or prevents the flow of water to the pipe H communicating
with the feed or supply pipe of the hydraulic ram. This motion is limited by stops or
cross pieces h. h. I, 1, is a lever or beam pivotted to any part of the tank. One end of
this lever or beam is attached to the guide F the other end heing provided with a
counter balance weight J. Along this beam or lever I, I¹, is also provided a
cylinder K partially filled with mercury which is adjustable by means of a set screw
or screws k. By this means I am enabled to adjust the weight on either side of the
pivot and thereby limit the working period of the ram as aforesaid.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Water flows into the tank A by means
of the pipe B and rising therein lifts the float (. The arm or projection E on the
float will move upwards in the guide F till it touches the top of the same and
then lifts it and the valve G so allowing the water in the tank to flow into the
pipe H.
It will thus be seen, that the filling of the tank (which automatically causes a flow
of water in pipe H) can be effected at night or other time, and that the valve is kept
open for a predetermined time and then automatically closes, thereby keeping air out
of the supply pipe.
The action of raising the guide F will raise the end I of the pivotted lever and
cause the mercury to flow to the other side of lever thus preventing the valve being
lowered until the arm E comes in contact with the lower end of the guide F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First
Apparatus for automatically and intermittently supplying water to the feed
imas of hudsonlin soms and for other purposes consisting of a tank for

page_text: receiving the water from the source of supply a float moving in vertical guides
and operating a valve by the rising of the water (so allowing the flow of the same,
to the feed or supply pipe) substantially as and' for the purposes set forth.
Second-The means or apparatus for limiting the working period of the ram
substantially as described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Third The improved apparatus for automatically and intermittently supplying
water to the feed or supply pipes of hydraulic rams substantially as described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
Dated this. 22nd day of June 1889.
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.