IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR PUMPS, AND IN MACHINERY FOR ACTUATING THE SAME
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Henry Tuck, of Great George Street, West-
minster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR PUMPS, AND IN
MACHINERY FOR ACTUATING THE SAME."
Sealed the 15th March 1861, and dated the 22nd September 1860..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Henry Tuck
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on.
the 22nd September 1860.
I, JOSEPH HENRY TUCK, of Great George Street, Westminster, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR PUMPS, AND
IN MACHINERY FOR. ACTUATING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in air pumps, and in
machinery for actuating the same. For these purposes an external cylinder is
used communicating with the external atmosphere, there being a valve which
opens inwards to the cylinder, and closes the air passage to the atmosphere on.
the return stroke of the piston. Provision is made for covering this inlet valve
with water or other fluid, when it is closed. The piston which works in this
outer cylinder is fixed at the end of an inner cylinder, which acts as the piston
The inner
pump.
rod of this piston, and also as the cylinder of the inner air
cylinder is fixed to a suitable cross head, and is moved to and fro within the.
outer cylinder, within the inner cylinder there is a pistou, the piston rod or
tube of which is fixed and stationary, so that the movement of the inner

page_text: cylinder is the cause of the air being received into the outer cylinder from the
atmosphere, and is also the cause, in its return stroke, of causing the air in the
outer cylinder to pass into and be compressed within the inner cylinder, and
also the means of causing the compressed air within the inner cylinder being
forced out therefrom into a receiver connected therewith.
In order to accomplish these results by the simple movement of the inner
cylinder several valves are used. Firstly, the one above mentioned in the air
passage between the outer cylinder and the atmosphere; secondly, a valve,
through the piston, which works in the outer cylinder,such valve opening into
the inner cylinder; and, thirdly, a valve in the stationary piston opening
outwards from the inner cylinder, and, as is mentioned in respect to the first
valve, provision is made for covering the other two valves with water or other
fluid when they are closed. The piston, which works within the outer cylinder
is formed with three cupped leathers, one near its uppersurface and two near its
lower orunder surface; the lower ones are so arranged that water or other fluid
is conveyed between them by the aid of a dished plate with an opening in the
centre, which is fixed below the piston, and at a short distance from its under
surface, so that when the piston descends this plate is depressed below water
or other fluid contained at the bottom of the outer cylinder. The water
or other fluid also passes up through this piston into the lower part of the
inner cylinder above the valve, so that in the ascending stroke of the inner
cylinder, the bottom thereof, and the valve thereon, will be covered with water
or other fluid. The inner cylinder works through a stuffing box, which is
formed with cupped leathers, provision being made for the introduction of
water or other fluid to such cup leathers. The fixed and stationary piston,
which works in the inner cylinder (by that cylinder being moved over it) is
formed with a passage through it, and a valve opening outwards from the
cylinder, and such piston is provided with cupped leathers and means of
supplying water or other fluid thereto. The piston rod of the fixed or stationary
piston of the inner cylinder is hollow and constitutes the air passage from the
inner cylinder to the receiver, the receiver being connected by a suitable pipe
to such hollow fixed piston rod. Over the exterior of the fixed piston rod is a
case, which, at its lower end, fits into the interior of the inner cylinder, and is
packed in such manner as to admit the inner cylinder sliding over it. The
exterior case contains water, and the interior of this case is so arranged and
divided by a partition that water descends down on one side of the piston rod,
then around the lower end thereof, and then up the other side of the piston
rod, thus keeping up a continuous circulation of the water, at the same time,
the interior of the inner cylinder will pass in contact with the water, which is

page_text: around the piston rod at its lower end, and thus will the inner cylinder be
cooled and lubricated thereby. Asthe valve in the fixed piston will be subject
to great back pressure, I apply apparatus for relieving it from such back
pressure, in order that the valve may be more readily opened by the pressure
of the air below. For this purpose a rod is fixed to the upper part of the
valve, and such rod rises up through a tube, which at its upper end is fixed to
the upper end of the fixed hollow piston rod, and at its lower end this tube is
fixed to a piston, which is contained in a short cylinder on the top of the valve,
such piston being packed with a cupped leather, so as to prevent the air above
passing downwards. The upper end of the rod where it passes out of the
upper end of the tube is attached to one end of a beam or lever, and the other
end of such beam or lever is weighted to the extent it is desired to relieve the
upper side of the valve from the back pressure and friction. Although I have
described the pistons to be formed with cupped leathers, other constructions of
pistons and packings for the same may be resorted to in carrying out my
Invention. Reciprocating motion is communicated to the inner cylinder of
the air pump above described, by preference of a high-pressure expanding
steam engine, having a like length of stroke to that of the air pump, the piston
rod of which is arranged to move at right angles to the notion of the inner
cylinder of the air pump. By these means the steam will be applied under
the most favorable circumstances. The air pump above described may,
however, be actuated by other power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Henry Tuck in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 22nd March 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I JOSEPH
HENRY TUCK, of Great George Street, Westminster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Henry Tuck, Her special licence that I, the said
Joseph Henry Tuck, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Joseph Henry Tuck, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should

page_text: and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR PUMPS AND IN MACHINERY FOR ACTUATING
THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Henry
Tuck, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Henry Tuck, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in air pumps, and in
machinery for actuating the same. For these purposes an external cylinder is
used, communicating with the external atmosphere, there being a valve which
opens inwards to the cylinder, and closes the air passage to the atmosphere on
the return stroke of the piston. Provision is made for covering this inlet
valve with water or other fluid when it is closed. The piston which works in
this outer cylinder is fixed at the end of an inner cylinder, which acts as the
piston rod of this piston, and also as the cylinder of the inner air pump. The
inner cylinder is fixed to a suitable cross head, and is moved to and fro within
the outer cylinder. Within the inner cylinder there is a piston, the piston rod
or tube of which is fixed and stationary, so that the movement of the inner
cylinder is the cause of the air being received into the outer cylinder from the
atmosphere, and is also the cause in its return stroke of causing the air in the
outer cylinder to pass into and be compressed within the inner cylinder, and
also the means of causing the compressed air within the inner cylinder being
forced out therefrom into a receiver connected therewith. In order to
accomplish these results by the simple movement of the inner cylinder several
valves are used, firstly, the one above mentioned in the air passage between
the outer cylinder and the atmosphere; secondly, a valve through the piston,
which works in the outer cylinder, such valve opening into the inner cylinder;
and, thirdly, a valve in the stationary piston, opening outwards from the inner
cylinder, and, as is mentioned in respect to the first valve, provision is made
for covering the other two valves with water or other fluid when they are
closed. The piston which works within the outer cylinder is formed with
three cupped leathers, one near its upper surface, and two near its lower or

page_text: under surface; the lower ones are so arranged that water or other fluid is
conveyed between them by the aid of a dished plate with an opening in the
centre, which is fixed below the piston, and at a short distance from its under
surface, so that when the piston descends this plate is depressed below water
or other fluid contained at the bottom of the outer cylinder. The water or
other fluid also passes up through this piston into the lower part of the inner
cylinder above the valve, so that in the ascending stroke of the inner cylinder
the bottom thereof, and the valve thereon will be covered with water or other
fluid. The inner cylinder works through a stuffing box, which is formed with
cupped leathers, provision being made for the introduction of water or other
fluid to such cup leathers. The fixed and stationary piston which works in
the inner cylinder (by that cylinder being moved over it) is formed with a
passage through it, and a valve opening outwards from the cylinder, and such
piston is provided with cupped leathers and means of supplying water or other
fluid thereto. The piston rod of the fixed or stationary piston of the inner
cylinder is hollow, and constitutes the air passage from the inner cylinder to
the receiver, the receiver being connected by a suitable pipe to such hollow
fixed piston rod. Over the exterior of the fixed piston rod is a case, which at
its lower end fits into the interior of the inner cylinder, and is packed in such
manner as to admit the inner cylinder sliding over it. The exterior case
contains water, and the interior of this case is so arranged and divided by a
partition that water descends down on one side of the piston rod, then around
the lower end thereof, and then up the other side of the piston rod, thus
keeping up a continuous circulation of the water, at the same time the interior
of the inner cylinder will pass in contact with the water which is around the
piston rod at its lower end, and thus will the inner cylinder be cooled and
lubricated thereby. As the valve in the fixed piston will be subject to great
back pressure, I apply apparatus for relieving it from such back pressure, in
order that the valve may be more readily opened by the pressure of the air
below. For this purpose a rod is fixed to the upper part of the valve, and
such rod rises up through a tube, which at its upper end is fixed to the upper
end of the fixed hollow piston rod, and at its lower end this tube is fixed to a
piston, which is contained in a short cylinder on the top of the valve, such
piston being packed with a cupped leather, so as to prevent the air above
passing downwards. The upper end of the rod where it passes out of the
upper end of the tube, is attached to one end of a beam or lever, and the
other end of such beam or lever is weighted to the extent it is desired to
relieve the upper side of the valve from the back pressure and friction.
Although I have described the pistons to be formed with cupped leathers,

page_text: other constructions of pistons and packings for the same may be resorted to in
carrying out my Invention.
Reciprocating motion is communicated to the inner cylinder of the air
pump above described, by preference, by a high pressure expanding steam
engine having a like length of stroke to that of the air pump, the piston rod of
which is arranged to move at right angles to the motion of the inner cylinder
of the air pump. By these means the steam will be applied under the most
favorable circumstances. The air pump above described may, however, be
actuated by other power.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed more fully
to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
g
Figure 1 shows a side elevation, in section, of machinery arranged and
combined according to my Invention; Figure 2 shows a side elevation of some
of the parts, in section, wherein a modification of the mode of arranging an
equilibrium valve is exhibited in place of that shewn in Figure 1. a, a, is the
external cylinder of the air pump, which communicates with the outer
atmosphere by the valves b, which open inward; by these valve passages the
air enters into the cylinder a, a, when the piston c is ascending. The piston c
is fixed to the end of an inner cylinder d, which acts as the piston rod of this
piston. The piston rod or inner cylinder d is fixed to a cross-head e, which is
actuated by connecting rods, which receive motion from a steam engine, as
hereafter explained. f is a piston, which is fixed to the tube, 9. which at its
upper end is fixed to and carried by the upper part of the framing, as shewn,
so that the piston fand tube y remain stationary, whilst the inner cylinder d
is moved to and fro thereon. It is desirable that the valves and pistons should
at all times be covered with water, for which purpose the water pipe x is used,
by which a regulated quantity of water is allowed constantly to flow to the air
passage over the valves 6, and the water rises to such a beight in the
cylinder a, a, as to cause a small quantity to pass through the piston c, when
it descends to the bottom of the cylinder a. In the piston c there is a
passage, which is covered by the valve c², and there is also a passage through
the piston f, which is covered by a valve f¹, which valve is connected to a
rod 2, which passes through a tube h, as shewn, where it is acted on by a
lever f³, which is weighted by weights on the rod f*. On the upper surface of
the valve f¹ is a short cylinder f, which receives a piston or cupped leather h
fixed at the lower end of the tube h, which tube h is fixed at its upper end sc
that the tube and piston remain stationary.

page_text: The interior of the tube h and the short cylinder fare arranged at times
to be open to the outer atmosphere, and at other times to be closed to the
outer atmosphere and open to the air passage i, which leads from the inner
cylinder d to the receiver or vessel into which the air as it is compressed is
forced by the action of the pump; the object of thus having the piston h¹
acted on by the outer atmosphere at one time, and by the compressed air at
another time is as follows:-The upper area of the valve f¹ where it is pressed
on by the compressed air above it is larger than the area of the under side of
the valve when it is closed, so that the air which is being compressed below
the valve (if no compensation were made for such larger upper area)would be
required to be condensed to a considerably greater degree than the air which
is above the valve f¹ before that valve would give way for the passage of the
air from the inner cylinder d into the tube g through the piston f, hence it is
that the upper surface of the valve f¹ is relieved of the pressure of the com-
pressed air above it to the extent of the area of the interior of the short
cylinder on the upper part of that valve. By these means when the air in the
inner cylinder has been brought to a degree of condensation somewhat above
that of the compressed air above the valve f; that valve will open and will
raise the rod so as to act on the lever above, which by a connecting link; will
act on the cock j'and close the passage to the outer atmosphere, and then open
a way between the air passage i and the interior of the short cylinder on the
upper part of the valve f¹, so that immediately the return stroke commences,
the valve f¹ will be pressed on its seat, and the cock will again open the
passage between the outer atmosphere and the cylinder at the top of the valve
f¹, having first closed the air passage between such short cylinder and the
compressed air in the passage i. The arrangement for obtaining an equili-
brium action to valve f¹ may be varied; and in Figure 2 a variation is shewn,
wherein the inner tube and the small cylinder on the valve f' are dispensed
with, and the rod in place of passing up a tube has at its upper end a slot by
which it is connected with another rod on which there is a piston or double
cupped leather, which works in a short cylinder having a stuffing box at its
upper end through which the rod passes. Into this cylinder there is an air
passage, which can be made to communicate with the outer atmosphere, or
with the compressed air in the passage i by a cock, as before explained, the
plug or valve of which is acted on by a rod kc, which is raised when the cross-
head of the inner cylinder comes up thereto. By this arrangement the com-
pressed air when the valve f is closed presses not only on the upper surface
of the valve f, but also on the under surface of the piston in the short
cylinder by which the valve f¹ will only be pressed on its seat by the pressure

page_text: on the larger area over that of the piston, so that when the air in the inner
cylinder becomes compressed somewhat in excess of the air which is above the
valve f¹, that valve will open and allow the compressed air to pass from the
inner cylinder through the piston f, whilst the compressed air will force the.
piston in the small cylinder upwards, which will cause the valve f¹ to remain
up off its seat till the cross head acts on the valve or plug of the cock so as
to admit of compressed air passing above the small piston, which will then
depress the small piston and allow the valve f¹ to press again on its seat when
the direction of the stroke of the pump commences to take place. The pistons
c and fare each packed by means of two cupped leathers u, u, to which water
can pass by the passages u¹, u³, by which means air will be prevented passing
in either direction; and I would state that this mode of packing the pistons of
air pumps will be found very advantageous in other forms or constructions of
air pumps; u is ordinary packing. Motion is communicated to the air pump,
above described, by means of a steam engine, the cylinder of which is shown
by the Diawing to be at right angles to the cylinder of the air pump; this,
however, may be varied to some extent, so long as the arrangement of steam
engine and the means of connecting its action with the air pump be such that
the full power of the steam engine is caused to act when the piston c of the
air
pump is overcoming the greatest effort, and the expansion of the steam
performs through those parts of the stroke of the air pump, which require the
lesser effect of the steam engine. Or in place of giving motion to the air pump
by a steam engine other power may be used. l,l,is the steam engine cylinder;
m is the piston rod, which receives motion by the steam acting on the piston
thereon. In the Drawing the parts are shown to be in the position when the
piston of the steam engine has just arrived at the end of a stroke, and full
steam is about to pass into the cylinder l, l, while the piston c in the air pump
has moved through about half the length of its stroke, and consequently the
air in the cylinder a, a, has become condensed to a considerable extent, but
which condensation will go on more and more as the piston c moves more and
more towards the end of its cylinder d. The piston rod of the steam cylinder
is connected to a cross head n, which by means of two side rods o, o, gives
motion to two connecting rods p,p, one on each side of the cylinder d. The
upper ends of the connecting rods p, p, are attached to the cross head fixed or
the inner cylinder; the lower ends of the connecting rods p, p, are pin-jointed
to lugs or projections forged or formed on the straps q, q, at the ends of the
side rods o, o. The side rods are connected to crank pins on the outer sides o
two fly wheels fixed on the main shaft or axis r. On the shaft or axis ri
fixed a cog wheels, which may be employed for giving motion to a pump t

page_text: supply water to the valves; on this shaft one of the cam surfaces t, t, is fixed,
the other cam surface being adjustible, as shown. The cam surfaces are shown
in red and black lines, the one or other will be used according to the direction
in which the engine is worked. These cam surfaces give motion to the sliding
frame v, which by a lever w gives motion to the slide valves y of the steam
engine.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to any of
the mechanical parts separately; but what I claim is the combination herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Henry Tuck, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
J. H. TUCK. (L.S.)