IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cuthbert Burnett of Hartlepool in the county of
Durham, Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
RAISING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cuthbert Burnett at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1883.
CUTHBERT BURNETT of Hartlepool in the county of Durhain Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS"
This invention relates to the construction of an improved apparatus for raising
water and other liquids, the object of the invention being to provide an apparatus
which shall combine simplicity and economy of construction with efficiency and
simplicity of action.
In constructing a single acting apparatus according to my invention I employ a
cylindrical or other suitably shaped body provided with the usual suction and
delivery valves, and at a convenient point above the latter is placed an injection
pipe the position of which determines the limit of the stroke. The said injection
pipe may be provided with a cock, whereby only the necessary quantity of water
may be admitted.
Instead of a pipe or cock piece as above named a portway
could be cast in the valve box and a corresponding passage in the body of the
machine.
•
On the top of the apparatus is fixed an equilibrium valve for the admission of
steam, and attached to the said valve is a piston the top of which is open to the
atmosphere; a stop for the valve is provided and also a lever for the purpose of
starting. In some cases I may employ a spring or weight to assist the valve in
closing promptly although neither are absolutely necessary. Below the steam valve
is placed a snifting valve for the admission of a small quantity of air with the
water.
On starting the machine a portion of the rising main and body of the machine
is charged with water and on the admission of steam by the above named lever the
water will be expelled through the delivery valve until the level of the injection
pipe is reached, when a portion of the water will flow back through the same and

page_text: will establish a vacuum, whereupon the water required to be raised will flow in
through the suction valve and with the air admitted through the snifting valve will
fill the machine and open the steam valve, when the said water and air will be
again expelled through the delivery valve, and so on, the apparatus being automatic
in its action.
To effect the opening and closing of the steam valve it will be evident that
whilst the vacuum. is being formed in the body of the apparatus the atmosphere
acting on the hereinbefore described piston will cause it to descend and thus force
the valves to their seats and so shut off the steam and on the vessel filling with
water and air the latter on reaching the underside of the piston will cause the
same to rise and thus open the valves and steam being admitted to the underside
of the piston, the said piston is forced up and the valves are fully opened for the
free admission of steam.
I have described my improvements as applied to a single acting machine but it
will be obvious that by duplicating the parts the machine can be made double
acting. It would however require only one steam valve and I prefer to use a
cylindrical piston valve, with steam cushion at either end, so that when the
vacuum is formed at one side the valve will instantly pass over and admit steam
to the other side and vice versa. The apparatus may be fitted with an air vessel,
and the pump valves may be arranged to suit different circumstances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Cuthbert Burnett in the
Patent Office on the 16th May 1884.
CUTHBERT BURNETT of Hartlepool in the County of Durham Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS”
This invention relates to the construction of an improved apparatus or pump
for raising water and other liquids the object of the invention being to provide an
apparatus or pump which shall combine simplicity and economy of construction
with efficiency and simplicity of action.
In constructing a single acting apparatus or pump according to my invention I
employ & cylindrical or other suitably shaped body provided with the usual suction
and delivery valves and at a convenient point above the latter is placed an injection
pipe. The said injection pipe may be provided with a cock whereby only the
necessary quantity of water may be admitted. Instead of a pipe or cock piece as
above named a portway could be cast or drilled in the valve box as shown.
On the top of the apparatus is fixed an equilibrium valve for the admission of
steam and attached to the said valve is a piston the top of which is open to the
atmosphere; a stop for the valve is provided and also a handle or lever for the
purpose of starting. In some cases. I may employ a spring or weight to assist the
valve in closing promptly although neither are necessary. Below the steam valve
is placed a "snifting" valve for the admission of small quantity of air.
On starting the machine a portion of the rising main and body of the machine is
in most instances charged with water and on the admission of steam by the above
named handle or lever the water will be expelled through the delivery valve, when
a portion of the water will flow back through the same and will establish a
vacuum, whereupon the water required to be raised will flow in through the suction
valve and with the air admitted through "snifting" valve will fill the machine and
open the steam valve, when the said water and air will be again expelled through
the delivery valve, and so on, the apparatus being automatic in its action..
To effect the opening and closing of the steam valve it will be evident that
whilst the vacuum is being formed in the body of the apparatus the atmosphere
acting on the herein before described piston will cause it to descend and thus force
the valves to their seats and so shut off the steam and on the vessel filling with
water and air the latter on reaching the underside of the piston will cause the
same to rise and thus open the valves and steam being admitted to the underside of
the piston, the said piston is forced up, and the valves are fully opened for the free
admission of steam.
I have described my improvements as applied to a single acting machine but it
will be obvious that by duplicating the parts, the machine can be made double
acting. It would however require only one steam valve and prefer to use a
cylindrical piston valve, with steam cushion at either end, so that when the vacuum is
formed at one side the valve will instantly pass over and admit steam to the other
side and vice versa. The apparatus may be fitted with an air vessel and the pump
valves may be arranged to suit different circumstances.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a single acting apparatus or pump
for raising water and other liquids constructed according to my invention. Figure 2
is a part vertical cross section of same through the line A, B of Figure 1. Figure 3
is a horizontal section through the line CD of Figure 1.. Figure 4 is a longitudinal

page_text: vertical section through line E F of Figure 1. Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 show
modified arrangements of the equilibrium valve and piston at the top of the pump.
Figure 5 shows the valve weighted with dead weight; Figure 6 shows the valve
with lever and weight. Figure 7 shows the valve with spring, in this case a single
beat valve is shewn. Figure 8 shows the valve with a diaphragm and Figure 9
shows the valve with a steam cushion, Figure 10 is a part longitudinal vertical
section and Figure 11 is a side elevation partly in section of a double acting pump
constructed according to my invention and which may either be made as shown or
disconnected from one another and with two separate steam cylinders. Figure 12
is a front elevation of pump showing the pipe connections provided with a reducing
valve. Figure 13 is a horizontal section of the pump through the four valves.
Figure 14 is a plan of the pump. Figures 15 and 16 show in longitudinal_vertical
section two modifications of piston valves. Figure 17 is a part sectional plan, and
Figure 18 is a part sectional elevation of an arrangement of valve and screw tap
for the admission of air to each cylinder. Figure 19 is a part sectional plan of
tap valve for the admission of air similar to that shewn applied at Figure 10.
Figures 20 and 22 are sectional elevations of modified forms of steam admission
and snifting valves and Figures 21 and 23 are sectional elevations of steam
admission and air snifting valves hereafter referred to. Figures 24, 25, and 26
show different arrangements of steam admission valves and Figure 27 is a view of
suction and injection valve and pipe to be used in connection with the invention.
Figures 28 and 29 shew an arrangement of valves whereby the air snifting
valve is operated and contained by the piston of steam admission valve.
Figures 30 and 31 shew two arrangements of valves arranged for steam
admission and snifting valves similar in some respects to those shewn and
described with reference to Figures 20 and 22. Figure 32 shows a method of
combining two single acting pump valves according to my invention, so as to
work in unison, and which arrangement may also be adopted in double acting
pumps so constructed.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the Figures.
a is the body. b is the suction valve or valves and c is the delivery valve or
valves of the pump: d is the suction and e the delivery pipe. f is the air vessel,
g is the injection pipe, h is the steam admission valve or valves for opening and
closing the main steam inlet G which valve or valves will be hereafter referred to,
some of the modified ways of its or their construction are shown at Figures 5, 6, 7,
8 and 9. is the snifting or air admission above, the opening of the steam
admission valve h being effected by the force of the inflowing water compressing a
small quantity of air admitted by the snifting valve i but only sufficient air being
admitted to prevent the water fouling the valves. ¹ is the piston of the valve h;
the detached views Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 show some of the ways in which these
valves may be constructed and modified, but in all cases it should be remarked that
there is a piston h¹ or its equivalent.
m is the stop for the valve h; o is the lever or spindle prolongation of the
piston h¹ for starting the valve; p is the weight acting on the spindle prolongation o
although such weight is not absolutely necessary I sometimes employ a weight or
its equivalent to assist the prompt closing of the valve h, the weight may consist
of a plain weight or a hollow ball as shown at Figure 5 weighted to the desired
weight by introducing shot or other substance. Figure 6 shows a lever o and
weight p adapted to this purpose. Figure 7 shows an adaptation of a spring p'
with or without weight to assist in controlling the valve h: Figure 8 shows a form
of valve where a flexible diaphragm q is employed which will be acted on by the
compressed air or steam and being greater in area than the upper face of the valve
will cause it (the valve h) to rise; the spring or weight or both combined
effecting the closing of valve at any desired part of stroke. At Figure 9 I show
one method of employing a steam cushion to be used instead of (or in combination
with) a spring, weight or lever, it consists of a hollow ball r opening to the top of
the piston h¹ and to the atmosphere by the grooved passages the ball ☞ is

page_text: supplied with the steam by the ports or passages 8 its admission being regulated
by the screw 8¹ (or equivalent means) In position as shown the steam is being
liberated from bali r into atmosphere, on rising of piston communication will be
established with ports and steam admitted in such quantity as to force down the
piston h¹ and so shut valves at the desired point. The air snifting valves i shewn
at Figures 1, 17, 18 and, 19 form communication between the interior of the upper
part of the pump and the atmosphere and the quantity of admission of which air is
regulated by the plug i¹. Figure 1 or screw ¿¹ Figures 17 18 and 19 or equivalent
device the exit of the steam & being prevented by suitable valve or valves i³.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The body of the pump a and part of
the rising main being supposed to be filled with fluid. The pump is started by
simply turning on steam or in some cases it may be necesarry to raise and lower the
valves h by hand or otherwise after which it will continue working automatically.
The steam thus being admitted through the steam supply G it acts on the
underside of valves hand piston h³ and keeps the steam supply passage open and the
pressure of the steam acting at the same time on the surface of the the water forces
it through the delivery valve c, and rising main and delivery pipe e. The pressure
of steam having fallen to or below the pressure of water in the rising main a small
quantity of water is returned in the form of a jet through the injection pipe g and
condenses the steam in the body of the pump a. The vacuum thus produced
causes the inflow through suction valve or valves b the simultaneous closing of the
steam admission valves h and the indrawing through the snifting valve i of a small
quantity of air which as the water reaches a defined height (regulated or decided
by the quantity of air admitted by the snifting valve) becomes compressed and
acting on the piston h¹ and admission valve or valves h the opening of which allows
the steam again to act on the surface of the water, and the above described round
of operations will continue automatically.
In order that the steam may not be discharged into the delivery pipe e I may
regulate the opening or closing of the steam admission valve or valves h so that as
the level of the water is reduced the force of the steam will be reduced to pressure
of column another method is to weight the valve as previously described so that
it may close at any desired point, the steam would thus work expansively.
It is obvious that the injection port would be equaly effective if placed at any
higher point of working cylinder as the water could not flow into the steam or
working chamber unless the pressure of water is equal to or greater than the
pressure of steam but from the fact that the injection is effective at any part of
the stroke I prefer to have it in position as shewn I can work the pump at any
desired speed within its limits and in the case of a single acting pump of 4000
gallons per hour capacity at 15 feet elevation I can so regulate the admission of
steam that it will perform as few as 5 strokes per minute and discharge as little
as one pint per stroke although its capacity is nearly three gallons. It will thus
be seen that it is capable of the finest adjustment. In some cases it may be
advisable to shut or close the injection port when the vacuum is established and
during the inflow of water. This may be done automatically in any convenient
manner for example by the means shown at Figure 27 where b is the suction
valve g is the injection pipe extending in this case to the centre of the body a or
directly over the suction valve 6 and the end of the pipe g carries a valve or
piston g' which is operated by the rising of the suction valve the solid portion of
the piston g¹ being brought opposite and closing the opening of the injection g
other expedients may of course be adapted for effecting the closure of the injection
pipe, for example a diaphragm may be connected to a valve in the injection pipe
and as soon as the requisite vacuum is obtained in the cylinder the atmospheric
pressure on the diaphragm closes the valve or I may effect the closure of the
injection pipe or port by the motion (directly or indirectly) of the piston or steam
admission valve or valves. In the case of double acting pumps constructed
according to my invention and as shown at Figures 10 11 and 12 etc the principle
of the action is essentially the same, as previously described with reference to my

page_text: single acting pump the motion and position of the steam admission valve or
valves being effected either by the force of the inflowing water on one side or by
the vacuum forming on the other or by both these causes simultaneously.
In order to cause the double acting pump to work expansively I may employ as
shown at Figures 15 and 16 a spring p which when the steam is shut off holds
the valves h in central position both being half way open. On starting the pump
the spring is forced over by hand or otherwise and steam is admitted to each side
alternately. When working the tendency of the spring is to reduce the valve
opening and so partially to cut off the steam supply the pressure soon decreases to
the pressure in water column when the injection flows in and forms a vacuum
which acting on piston ¹ forces the valve to its seat Sometimes instead of using
a solid piston as previously shewn I employ a hollow piston h¹ as illustrated at
Figure 24. Steam is being admitted to cylinder 1 through the opening h³ in the
piston and thence enters the cylinder 1 at h Steam is also pressing on the
end of the piston h¹ from the cylinder 1 through the passage a¹ and the vacuum
in the other cylinder 2 will act on the opposite end of the piston h¹
Another modification of this valve is shown at Figure 25 where a solid piston
is employed although arranged and operated similar to that shewn at Figure 24.
Instead of employing a piston I may use a diaphragm as an equivalent for
example as shewn at Figure 26 q is the diaphragm acted upon in a similar
manner to the piston in previous figures o is the starting lever x are guides for
the valve spindle
It will be noted from the foregoing description that in both single and double
acting pumps I may employ weights springs or steam cushions or their equivalents
to close or assist in closing the valve or valves.
Where great regularity is required and where the machine is to be worked
expansively I may employ a reducing valve and a steam receiver the reducing
valve to be adjusted to minimum working pressure. When pumping into a tank
I may employ an equilibrium or other suitable steam controlling supply valve
altached to a float in tank.
When air is used to prevent fouling the valves by the inrush of water I admit
the least possible quantity of air so that it is sufficient for its purpose but in some
cases I prefer not to admit any air at all until the water rising in the cylinder
through the suction valve has reached an approved or desired height and then
when the height has been reached a small and sufficient quantity of air is admitted
by a float or other mechanical contrivance acting on a suitable valve; one arrangement
is shown at Figure 21 of accomplishing the above object, t is a ball or float attached
to a rod t¹ passing loosely through the spindle of the steam admission valve.
The rod t carries on its upper end or actuates a valve 2 open to the atmosphere.
On the water rising and floating the ball or float t the valve t is raised and admits
sufficient air to raise the steam valve or valves. Figure 23 shows a modification
of this arrangement where a flat plate or disc t is used which on receiving a blow
from the rising water operates the valve t' as previously described. These are
most important modifications of air admission valves; they require no adjustment
and will work either long or short lifts and to its full capacity at each stroke,
moreover the minimum quantity of air is admitted at each stroke which as I have
before shewn is of great advantage. Figures 28 and 29 shew other arrangements
for admitting air by the motion and action of the steam admission valve and
piston h and h¹.
In Figure 28 instead of as shown previously using a cap at the top to stop the
"rise" of the valve and piston I form the piston h¹ with a conical valve like end h³
which on the piston h¹ and steam valve h opening and rising rests on a suitably
formed seating and thus while at the same time acting as a stop for the piston
prevents any leakage of the steam which might occur by the wear of the piston.
In some cases and as shewn in this Figure (Figure 28). I may sometimes drill a
small hole through the piston diagonally and by screwing the end of the spindle o
into the end of the cylinder form a valve (or screw plug) for controlling the

page_text: :
admission of air and when adjusted to any required position can be secured by
check nut. It will be noticed that the hole h³ opens out immediately above the
valve h² and that on the rising of the piston all communication with the atmosphere
is cut off.
In Figure 29 as in the previous Figure the piston itself serves the purpose of
snifting valve. A hole or holes h³ is or are drilled into the piston h¹ (for example
as shewn) and the diameter of the hole or holes h³ will be less than the travel of
the piston In the latter is turned a groove communicating with port h 3.
The air admission may be regulated by a screw-plug as at i¹ or any other
analogous contrivance. Seeing that cold air must condense a certain quantity of
steam even under the best conditions, I in some cases propose to dispense with air
and use steam for the purpose of destroying the vacuum and opening the valves.
For this purpose valves of, a similar kind to those described with reference to
Figures 21 and 23 will answer the purpose which admit a small quantity of steam
destroying the vacuum when owing to the superior area of the piston the said
piston and with it the main steam admission valve is raised and a further supply
of steam is admitted to eject the water; two of these modifications for steam
anifting valves being shewn at Figures 20 and 22.
In Figure 20, t is the float, t¹ the loosely fitting spindle, t the valve but in this
case opening into the steam admission passage instead of to the atmosphere as in
Figures 21 and 23. The spindle of this description of snifting valve may be
provided with a collar t as shewn which striking against the spindle of main
steam valve will assist in forcing it from its seat. In Figure 22 a disc t is shewn
(as in Figure 23) but the passage by which the water reaches this disc is diminished
in size in order to increase the velocity of the water.
Figure 30 shows a steam admission and steam snifting valve combined similar
and marked with corresponding letters to that described with reference to Figure 22
except that the piston his shewn provided with a valve like end h² as described
with reference to Figure 28 and it will be clearly seen that the end h³ may be
adapted in some cases to other forms of my valves.
Figure 31 shews an application of a diaphragm q to a similar description and
arrangement of valve to the previous Figures namely Figures 20, 22, 30. It is
clear from the foregoing that when I use my double beat valve in combination
with a piston or its equivalent in this case a diaphragm, I may use a float of
sufficient buoyancy to overcome the pressure of the atmosphere on the piston. I in
that case need no breaking or snifting valve. These valves may be adapted to
either single or double acting pumps with very slight modifications.
Two single acting pumps may be place together and worked in concert for example
as shown at Figure 32 by suspending a lever K between the valves represented by
L, M. The amount of lift of the valves may be regulated by raising the fulcrum K¹
of the lever K vertically by means of screwed eye and check nuts K which eye carries
the fulcrum and is secured and carried itself by a plate K³ a breeches pipe may
connect the two valves for supply of steam. This arrangement would suit well
when there is a good deal of oscillation as for marine purposes. In regard to pump.
valves I may use any other sort or description to those shewn that may be suitable
for the purpose and for example I may use metallic valves either of the ordinary
mushroom type or double-beat or of that class used in air pumps (patent metallic
valves) or I may use circular rectangular or square grid valve seats with rubber or
other valves.
In some cases I may make my pump of lead or other suitable material for the
purpose of resisting the action of chemical acids &c. The inside of pumps con-
structed according to my invention should be painted with asbestos paint and for
this purpose it should be reduced to great fineness and after application it should
be varnished.
Pumps constructed according to my invention do not require to be immersed in
water as is the case with many pumps but work atmospherically and when air is
admitted its admission is capable of regulation to a very great nicety allowing a

page_text: sufficient vacuum to be formed in the cylinder and when air is not admitted steam
takes its place as before described.
Having now described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I am aware that prior to the Invention of
the steam engine attempts had been made to force water by the direct pressure of
steam thereon this was done by "Papin Savory" and others and in modern times
by "Hall's Patent N° 2885 A.D. 1872 by Neuhaus and Hodgkin Patent N° 3867
A.D. 1875; by Hecks Patent N° 5006 A.D. 1876 by Kidd's Patents 1609 A.D. 1881
and 1090 A.D 1883. I am also aware that equilibrium valves as applied to steam
pumps are not new see Elliot and Burnetts Patents N° 4463 A.D. 1876 neither is
it new to admit air in large or uncontrollable volumes whereby steam is condensed
and thus wasted and a vacuum is at any rate with very great difficulty prevented
from being formed at all but I claim as my improvements in apparatus for raising
water and other liquids.
First In pumps the employment of a piston or diagphragm in combination with
a steam admission valve or valves (double beat or otherwise) whereby the steam is
admitted in such quantity that at any desired point before or on the completion of
the stroke the pressure of the steam will fall to or below the pressure of the column
of water in the rising main when a portion or jet of same will return through the
injection port the said jet being controlled when desired either by the piston or
otherwise and so effect the condensation all substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Second: In pumps the employment of snifting valves for admitting a regulated
or measured quantity of air during the stroke or at or near the completion of same
in combination with the steam admission valves all substantially as described and
illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third-In pumps the employment of steam snifting valves whereby steam is
admitted instead of air for destroying the vacuum in combination with the piston
open to the atmosphere all substantially as described and illustrated particularly
with reference to Figures 20, 22, 30 and 31 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth-In single acting pumps the employment of air vessels in combination
with my other improvements as aforesaid substantially as described and illustrated
with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth The general combination and arrangement of single and double acting
pumps. together with the valves and mode of operating same all substantially as
herein before described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Cuthbert Burnett have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Thirteenth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.