IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER BY MEANS OF COMPRESSED AIR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lawton Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert & Co.,
Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of West, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER BY MEANS
OF COMPRESSED AIR." A communication from abroad by Jared Augustus
Ayres, of Hartford, County of Hartford, State of Connecticut, United States of
America.
Sealed the 15th December 1876, and dated the 25th October 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Lawton Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th October 1876.
JOHN LAWTON HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER BY MEANS OF COMPRESSED AIR." A communication
from abroad by Jared Augustus Ayres, of Hartford, County of Hartford, State of
Connecticut, United States of America.
My said Invention relates to an automatic apparatus for raising water by means
of compressed air, in which the water is forced alternately out of two chambers into
which it flows by gravity, in such a manner as to rise in a continuous stream.
The object of my Invention is to carry water under pressure to any part of a
building, or to any desired height, from a well, river, or any other source of supply
without previous pumping to a reservoir at a higher level.
My said Invention consists in raising water by means of compressed air applied
either directly from an air pump, or from an air reservoir into which the air has
been previously forced.
It also consists in the peculiar mechanical devices by which this is effected as
herein-after described.
It also consists in the automatic arrangements for operating the valve which
directs the supply of compressed air to the two chambers alternately, and in the
devices which allow of this valve being placed at any point upon the line of the
supply pipe, however distant from the place from which the water is drawn.
My Invention also consists in combining a hollow air-tight receiver or reservoir
with a wind wheel and with a suitable air pump connected to and operated by the
wind wheel.
It also consists in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of the
mechanism herein-after described.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawings, on Two Sheets, Figure 1 represents at the top
an air pump connected by pipes to the water chambers shewn in section below.
Figure 2 is a section through the three-way cock V in the direction of the handle.
Figure 3 is a section at right angles to that shewn in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a top
view of the same showing the connections of the cock in the position they assume
when the arm or handle is at right angles to the pipes.
Figure 5 is a front view of the water chambers and valve mechanism in one form
of my improved apparatus for raising water, with the front of the water chambers
removed in order to shew the interior parts.
Figure 6 is a top view of the valve mechanism, showing the water chambers
underneath.
Figure 7 is a rear view of the valve mechanism, showing a section upon the
line y, y, of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a section through the delivery pipe, showing the manner of drawing
the supply for operating the valve..
Figure 9 is a view of the under side of the valve which changes the direction of
the current of compressed air.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of another form of my improved apparatus, in
which the air valve is operated by the oscillating motion of the water cylinders.
Figure 11 is a sectional view of the same, showing the interior arrangement of the
valve and water chambers.
Figure 12 shows the arrangement of the wind wheel, air pump, and reservoir
for the compressed air for furnishing a supply to the pumping mechanism through
the pipe leading to the air valve.
In that part of my Invention, shown in Figures 1 to 4, Y is an air pump, in
any convenient position above the surface of the water. Z, Z¹, are water chambers
situated at any distance below the surface of the water, and connected with the
air pump by means of the pipes b and b¹, which may be of any desired length
leading from the air pump to the water. c, c', are pipes inside the water chambers
reaching nearly to the bottom, and uniting at the top outside the chambers to
form the ascending pipe d for carrying the water to the desired point. e, e¹, are
valves within the pipes c, c², opening upward. f, f¹, are valves in the bottoms of
the chambers Z, Z', also opening upward. V is an automatic three-way valve or
cock connecting the two pipes 6 and 6 with the single air pipe a leading from the
air pump Y. This cock has one straight hole through it enlarged at the end g
so as always to be in communication with the pipe a, while at the other end it can
be turned so as to communicate with either of the pipes b or 61.
b
There are also two other holes i, i, through the cock, one of which is in com-
munication with one of the pipes 6 or 61 when the aperture h is in communication
with the other. One end of i and opens into the atmosphere, which allows the
air to pass out of one of the pipes b, or b¹, while the compressed air from a is passing
into the other. The handle or arm o of the cock is operated by the two cams n
and m on the wheel; which alternately push back the ends of the arm o, and throw
the communication with a from 6 to 6¹ or from b¹ to b. This change is made every
certain number of stroks of the pump Y. The pawl K which is attached to the
cross head 7 of the air pump advances the wheel jone cog each stroke, and at each
half revolution of j one of the cams mor n operates against the arm of the cock
and changes the communications.
As shown in the Drawing the cock is turned
every fourth stroke of the pump.
"
The operation of this part of my Invention is as follows:-The air is pumped by
any suitable power from the air pump Y either directly into the pipe a or into
some suitable reservoir from which a leads with the valve or cock V in the position
shown in the Drawing, Figure 1. The compressed air passes down the pipe bl
into the top of the chamber Z¹. The water contained in the chamber is forced out
of it through the pipe c¹, and ascends through the valve e¹ into the pipe d, leading
to any desired point. The valve e being closed by the column of water prevents it
from returning into the opposite chamber Z. The air from this chamber Z is in the

page_text: meanwhile escaping through the pipe b which is in communication with the
atmosphere, and the chamber Z fills with water through the valve f in the bottom.
At the end of a certain number of strokes of the air pump the cock is reversed, and
the water in the chamber Z is forced out through the pipe d, while the air escapes
5 from Z¹, and that chamber becomes filled with water.
This part of my Invention can also be used with but one chamber into which
the air is alternately forced and released instead of the double-acting arrangement
heretofore described.
In that part of my Invention shown in Figures 5 to 9, A and B are the two
water chambers placed below the surface of the water in a well or cistern, so that
the water enters them by the force of gravity through the valves C and D to fill
them. These chambers are shown in the Drawing as being formed in the cylinder
X, X, which is divided by a partition through the middle; E and F are passages
furnished with check valves leading into the delivery pipe G which passes through
the top of the cylinder to where the water is to be used; H and I are air pipes for
conducting the compressed air into the chambers A and B alternately to force out the
water; G is the main air pipe leading from an air pump or a reservoir of compressed
air. The air is directed into one or the other of the pipes H or I by means of a
slide valve K, which at each movement throws one of these pipes into communica-
tion with J, while the other is opened to the atmosphere through the port L.
The valve K is operated by means of an arm upon a rocking shaft M, to which
motion is communicated in the following manner:-N and O are buckets placed
upon the outer ends of the rocking lever P, which is keyed to the shaft M. These
buckets are alternately filled with water from a small cock or opening R drawing a
minute quantity of water from the main ascending pipe G. They are arranged
with a suitable spout Q for conducting the water into the one which is uppermost
while the other is discharging; O' and N¹ show the appertures for filling, and Ou
shows one of the appertures for discharging. In the Drawings the bucket O is shown
in the position for filling, and the bucket N in the position for discharging, when
O becomes full and N empty, or nearly so, the bucket O descends and N rises, thus
reversing the operation and moving the valve K to the opposite end of its throw.
The cock in R regulates the quantity of water supplied to the buckets so as to
cause the valve to be operated as rapidly or as slowly as may be desired. S is a
small reservoir shown in the Drawings as surrounding the pipe G into which the
water passes through the opening I, and from the bottom of which it is drawn out
through the opening R. This reservoir is for the purpose of retaining a sufficient
supply of water to operate the valve, if at any time on account of drawing a large
quantity of water, or otherwise by accident, the water should be all blown out of
the pipe G. The water remaining in the reservoir would then throw the valve,
and the apparatus would again be ready to furnish a farther supply. U is a check
valve placed in the pipe G above the reservoir to prevent a reflux of the water
above it.
By means of this part of my Invention the valves for automatically operating
the continuous supply of water from the submerged chambers can be placed at any
desired distance from the well or other point of supply. It can be placed in the
wall above the surface of the water, or it can be removed to where the water is
delivered.
In that part of my Invention shown in Figures 10 and 11 the water chambers
instead of being stationary, as before described, are attached to an oscillating frame
which receives its motion from the difference of gravity of the two chambers as
they are alternately filled with air and water. The valve for regulating the admis-
sion of the compressed air to the water chambers is also attached to the oscillating
frame, and is operated by the alternate movement of the water chambers. The
throw is given by an arm or lever connected with a fixed part of the frame.
P and P¹ are the water chambers which are connected together by a frame turning
upon an axis at S. which is secured to a fixed standard or support Z. q and q are
valves opening upward into the water chambers. and are. the water pipes

page_text: leading from the chambers P and P¹ and uniting in the upright delivery pipe t
v is a slide
u is the air pipe for conducting the condensed air to the valve v.
valve operated by means of a rocking lever w passing through the exhaust port
which allows the air to escape from under the valve. x is an intermediate rocking
lever pivoted to the oscillating frame, one end of which is jointed to the fixed
upright z, and the other end of which moves the lever that operates the valve.
The pipes and r¹ are furnished with check valves to prevent a reflux of water
from the ascending pipe t to the chambers P, P¹.
The operation of this part of my Invention is as follows:-In the position of the
water chambers shewn in the Drawing the pressure of the condensed air is acting
upon the water contained in the chamber P¹ and forcing it out through the pipes l
and t. The air is escaping from the chamber P and it is filling with water through
the valve q. When the water has passed out of the chamber P¹ the gravity of the
opposite chamber will preponderate and the frame will tip to the other side so as
to raise the chamber P₁ and move the valve to the other end of its throw. The
operation is now reversed, and the water is forced out of the chamber P through the
pipes and t, and the chamber fills. This operation continues so long as any
water is drawn from the main pipe t. When all the apertures by which water is
drawn from the main pipe are closed the operation of the chambers and valve ceases
until water is again drawn.
In all the different forms of my Invention the water in the chambers is con-
stantly under pressure, but the action only commences when a cock is opened in
the main delivery pipe.
In that part of my Invention shewn in Figure 12 A² is a wind wheel which is
firmly attached to a shaft B2. This has its bearings in boxes of the usual construc-
tion on the top of the tower C2, and is provided with a crank b² for operating the
air pump P2, which may be of any usual construction. The hollow tower or reser-
voir is made of sheet or plate metal, or any material which will resist the
required pressure. It rests upon a platform D2, and, as shown in the Drawing,
rotates upon the hollow central axis C², which serves as an exit pipe for the com-
pressed air. The tower with its appendages is made to turn easily upon the plat-
form D2, and may be placed upon friction rollers to facilitate its rotary motion.
The object of this motion is to permit the wind wheel to be turned in the direc-
tion of the wind by means of a suitable vane.
The reservoir C² is provided with a safety valve d² to provide against an excess
of pressure, and an exit pipe c² to convey the compressed air to the water chambers
or where it is to be used. In the Drawing the reservoir is shown as being a hollow
tower turning with the wind wheel, but it may be separate and removed from the
vicinity of the wind wheel and of the air pump P2, and placed in any convenient
or desired position. In this case it would be connected with the air pump by
means of a suitable pipe, and the wind wheel would rest upon a tower of ordinary
construction. The compressed air from the air pump P2 can be forced into the
reservoir or it can be applied directly to the water chambers of the water pumping
apparatus.
The reservoir serves to store the power for use when the wind wheel is not in
operation.
What I claim as my Invention is―
1. The automatic valve or cock V constructed and operating substantially in the
manner herein described.
2. The chambers Z, Z', in combination with an automatic valve V, substantially
as herein described.
3. The devices j, k, and m, n, for operating the valve V at the end of any number
of strokes desired, substantially as described.
4. The combination of the chambers A and B, the water pipe G, the air pipes H,
I, J, and a valve K, for changing the direction of the current of air, the said
valve being operated by a small stream of water drawn from the delivery pipe G,
substantially as herein described.

page_text: 5. The combination of the oscillating buckets N, O, the shaft M, the valve K, and
the air pipes H, I, J, with an aperture for taking a minute stream of water from
the delivery pipe G for the purpose of operating the said parts, substantially as
herein set forth.
6. The reservoir S in combination with the oscillating buckets N, O, and the
pipe G, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
7. The self-acting oscillating pumping apparatus shown in Figures 10 and 11
operated by compressed air, substantially in the manner herein described.
8. The combination of an air pump, a reservoir for compressed air, and an auto-
matic continuously-acting water pump, constructed substantially in the manner
herein described.
9. The combination of a reservoir for compressed air with an automatic con-
tinuously-acting pump and delivery cocks, by the arrangement of which the action
of the pump is controlled, as herein described.
10. A self-acting pumping mechanism, constructed substantially in the manner
described, in combination with a delivery cock, so that its action can be started by
the opening of the delivery cock, and stopped by closing it, through the interven-
tion of the enclosed water, substantially as herein specified.
11. The arrangement of the water chambers with their supply and waste air
pipes in such a manner that the motion of the water chambers opens and closes
the communication through the pipes, substantially in the manner specified.
12. The combination of a wind wheel, an air pump, and a reservoir for com-
pressed air, substantially as herein described.
13. The hollow rotary tower C2 with its tubular axis c², in combination with a
wind wheel, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lawton Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
J. L. HADDAN. (L.S.)