Improvements in Hydraulic Rams.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Rams.
We, WILLIAM EVANS, of the firm of Joseph Evans & Sons, of Culwell Pump
Works, Woverhampton in the County of Stafford, Hydraulic and General
Engineers and Ironfounders, and ABRAHAM HOPWOOD, of 3 Culwell Terrace,
Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, aforesaid, Foreman over Fitters, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the type of hydraulic ram
commonly known as "double-acting," in which a falling column of water, operating
in combination with a beat or pulse valve as in the ordinary ram, causes the
operation in one direction, at each beat or pulsation, of a pump which pumps water
In this
(or it may be other liquid) to the place where required for storage or use.
type of ram the reverse operation of the pump has heretofore been caused by the
reaction of a spring or springs, or of a weight acting through suitable leverage.
These methods of causing the return action are unsatisfactory.
Now, the main objects of this invention are:-To cause the reverse action of the
pump by hydraulic pressure; to provide means whereby the speed of such action
may be readily controlled or regulated; to ensure a suitable cushion to the
movement of the pump due to the beating or pulsating effect of the movement of
the falling column; and to provide means whereby the pump may be operated by
hand or power in case the supply of water for the falling column should fail. The
invention comprises, also, other improvements hereinafter described.
A hydraulic ram, constructed according to this invention, consists, in its main
features:-Of a chamber with which a drive or fall pipe communicates and which
has a waste or beat valve fitted thereto; of a driving plunger or piston, working in
a suitable barrel or guide, which is driven outwards by the beat or impact of the
falling column; of a pump plunger or piston, which is driven forward by the action
of the driving plunger, or piston, and which works in a suitable barrel provided with
suction and delivery passages and valves whereby it may operate as a pump; and
of a plunger or piston (hereinafter termed the "return" plunger or piston) which
works in a suitable barrel and is pressed forward by the movement of the driving
plunger or piston due to the beat of the falling column, and which is constantly in
communication with water (or other liquid) under such head or pressure as will
ensure its return, and that of the pump plunger or piston and driving plunger or
piston, when their forward movement is expended.
A handle or lever is connected with the pump plunger or piston, by which it may
be operated by hand or by power, such as from a windmill, in case of a failure in
the supply of water for the falling column.
The delivery outlet from the pump barrel is formed a short distance from the
end of the barrel towards which the plunger or piston moves in forcing, and the
outlet is formed gradually narrowing towards such end. The plunger, if such is
used, fits within the barrel, and as the plunger or piston nears the end of its forcing
stroke it passes over the outlet, thus gradually diminishing the available area
thereof, the degree of gradation being determined by the peculiar shape given to
the opening. The pump plunger or piston is thus cushioned, and its movement
finally stopped immediately the outlet has been closed by the plunger or piston
passing completely over it.'
The return plunger or piston may be in communication either with a separate
column or with the column into which the pump delivers; and, in either case,
the column must be properly constituted before the ram can be worked by the

page_text: falling column, as until such is the case the working parts cannot return automati-
cally after being driven forward by the beat or impact of the falling column.
When the return plunger or piston is in communication with the column into which
the pump delivers, such column can be readily constituted by operating the handle
or lever a sufficient number of strokes. This column, or both columns when a
separate column is used for the return plunger or piston, is or are preferably in
communication with an air vessel or vessels.
A suitable regulator or check valve, which will open to any desired extent as the
water is forced outwards, but which can be adjusted so as not to close on the reverse
action of the plunger beyond a point fixed by a suitable adjustable stop, is interposed
between the barrel in which the return plunger or piston works and the column of
water in communication therewith, in order that, by restricting the back or inflow,
the speed of the return movement of the working parts may be controlled or
regulated as desired.
According to a convenient modification of this invention, a hollow driving plunger,
open at its inner end, works in a horizontal barrel which forms the opposite end of
the chamber into which the drive pipe leads to that with which such pipe directly
communicates. A pump plunger is, preferably, formed in one piece with the driving
plunger, and has a common axis therewith. The pump plunger works in an annular
barrel of which the inner wall forms a smaller barrel; and a return plunger works
in this smaller barrel. The return plunger may be fixed to the pump plunger, or
may be separate therefrom; and in either case is pressed forward by the pump
plunger, and itself presses back such pump plunger and the driving plunger when
the force of the forward stroke has been expended. The adjustable valve, through
which the water or other liquid is forced out from the return plunger barrel, is
prevented from closing by means of a screw-pin or stop which may be advanced
towards or drawn back from the under or inner side of the valve, and be fixed in
any desired position of adjustment by means of a lock-nut. The handle or lever by
which the apparatus may be operated by hand or power, independently of the
action of the falling column, may be fulcrumed on the end of a link or pair of links
pivoted to a suitable fixed lug, and the inner end of such handle or lever be
pivoted to a suitable cross-head in position between the driving plunger and pump
plunger.
According to a further modification, the pump plunger may be closed at its
forward or inner end and the return plunger be placed at such end to work within
a barrel extending beyond the pump barrel.
According to a still further modification, the pump may be made double-acting,
in which case the stroke in one direction is caused by the beat or impact of the
falling column and in the opposite direction by the pressure of the column which is
in communication with the forward end of the return plunger or piston.
Dated this 18th day of May 1892.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Rams.
We, WILLIAM EVANS, of the firm of Joseph Evans and Sons; of Culwell
Pump Works, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Hydraulic and General
Engineers and Ironfounders, and ABRAHAM HOPWOOD, of 3 Culwell Terrace,
Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, aforesaid, Foreman over Fitters, 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 relates to certain improvements in the type of hydraulic ram
commonly known as “double-acting," in which a falling column of water, operating

page_text: in combination with a beat or pulse valve, as in the ordinary ram, causes the
operation in one direction, at each beat or pulsation, of a pump which pumps
water (or it may be other liquid) to the place where required for storage or use.
In this type of ram the reverse operation of the pump has heretofore been caused
by the reaction of a spring or springs, or of a weight acting through suitable
leverage. These methods of causing the return action are, however, unsatisfactory.
Now, the main objects of this invention are:-To cause the reverse action of the
ram by hydraulic pressure; to provide means whereby the speed of such action
may be readily controlled or regulated; to ensure a suitable cushion to the move-
ment of the pump due to the beating or pulsating effect of the movement of the
falling column; and to provide means whereby the pump may be operated by hand
or power in case the supply of water for the falling column should fail, and in case
also a column has to be constituted in the delivery pipe to give the necessary
pressure to cause the back stroke. The invention comprises, also, other improve-
ments hereinafter described.
A hydraulic ram, constructed according to this invention, consists, in its main
features:-Of a chamber with which a drive or fall pipe communicates and
which has a beat or pulse valve fitted thereto; of a driving plunger or piston,
working in a suitable barrel or guide, which is driven outwards by the beat or
impact of the falling column; of a plunger or piston, which is driven forward by
the action of the driving plunger or piston, and which works in a suitable barrel
provided with suction and delivery passages and valves so that it may operate as a
pump; and of a plunger or piston (which we term for convenience the "return
plunger or piston) which works in a suitable barrel and is pressed forward by the
movement of the driving plunger or piston due to the beat of the falling column,
and which is constantly in communication with water (or other liquid) under such
head or pressure as will ensure its return, and that of the pump plunger or piston
and driving plunger or piston, when their forward movement is expended.
"
A handle or lever is connected with the pump plunger or piston, by which it
may be operated by hand or by power, such as that of a windmill, in case of a
failure in the supply of water for the falling column, or be operated by hand in case
a column has to be constituted in the delivery pipe to give the necessary pressure
to cause the back stroke.
The delivery outlet from the pump barrel is formed a short distance from the
end of the barrel towards which the plunger or piston moves in forcing, and the
outlet is formed, at its side which is towards such end, of a shape, such as semi-
circular, which reduces in width towards the corresponding end of the barrel. The
plunger, if such is used, fits within the barrel, and as the plunger or piston nears
the end of its forcing stroke it passes over the outlet, and its speed is gradually
reduced owing to the rapidly lessening area of the outlet restricting the outflow of
the liquid from the barrel. The pump plunger or piston is finally stopped by the
body of liquid enclosed within the end of the barrel after the plunger or piston has
completely closed the opening. The movement of the parts is thus cushioned as
they approach the termination of the outward stroke.
The return plunger or piston may be in communication either with a separate
column or with the column into which the pump delivers; and, in either case,
the column must be properly constituted before the ram can be worked by the falling
column, as until such is the case the working parts cannot return automatically
after being driven forward by the beat or impact of the falling column. When
the return plunger or piston is in communication with the column into which the
pump delivers, such column can be readily constituted by operating the handle or
lever a sufficient number of strokes.
A suitable regulator or check valve, which will open to any desired extent as the
water is forced outwards, but which can be adjusted so as not to close on the
reverse action of the plunger beyond a point fixed by a suitable adjustable stop, is
interposed between the barrel in which the return plunger or piston works and the
column of water in communication therewith, in order that, by restricting the back

page_text: or now, the speed of the return movement of the working parts may be controlled
or regulated as desired.
A modification of this invention is illustrated by Figure 1 of the drawings
herewith, which is a longitudinal section through the centre of a double-acting
hydraulic ram.
A hollow driving plunger A, open at its inner end as shewn, works in a horizontal
barrel Bat the opposite end of the chamber C into which the drive pipe D leads to
that with which such pipe directly communicates. The beat or pulse valve E is of
the usual character. A pump plunger F, preferably formed in one piece with the
driving plunger A, has a common axis therewith. This plunger F is formed hollow
and is open at its outer end, as shewn, and works in an annular barrel G of which
the inner wall a forms a smaller barrel. A return plunger b works in the barrel a.
The plunger b may be fixed at its inner end to the plunger F, or may be separate
therefrom, and the inner end of the hollow plunger F simply butt, as shewn, against
the end of the plunger b. The annular barrel G has an inlet valve of the ordinary
or any convenient description. This valve, however, being conveniently placed on
one side of the pump barrel does not appear on the illustration. The barrel G has
also a delivery valve c, which may be a hinged valve, as shewn, or of any convenient
construction, and the short passage d from the pump barrel to the valve is so placed
in position along the barrel that the pump plunger F completely closes such passage
as it completes its forward stroke, and is thus stopped by the liquid remaining in
the barrel G after the delivery passage is closed by the plunger. The delivery
passage d is circular or of other form in shape which decreases in width towards its
back end, and thus as the plunger F approches the end of its forward stroke the
rapidly reducing area of such passage causes an increasing resistance to the forward
movement of the plunger F and the other parts moving therewith, and thus tends
to bring them to a state of rest without undue shock. The exact shape of the
opening may be varied, according to the conditions which will obtain for a specific
pump, so as to reduce the momentum of the parts in the most advantageous
manner.
A small valve e is seated in connection with the small barrel a within which the
plunger works, and in the special illustration under consideration the liquid
which is driven out past such valve, as the plunger & performs its outward stroke,
passes into a chamber H into which the liquid delivered through the valve c
passes; and the chamber H is in communication with an air vessel J from which
the main delivery pipe or rising column K is led away. The valve e is prevented
from closing by means of an adjustable stop screw f, and when the force of the
driving plunger A has been expended liquid is forced back from the chamber H,
past the valve e, into the outer end of the barrel a, and forces back the plunger b
and consequently the plunger F and driving plunger A; and the speed of flow of
the liquid from the chamber H past the valve e, and consequently the speed of the
return movement of the plungers, may be regulated by the screw f. The driving
plunger is then forced out again, through the action of the falling column, just in
the manner in which the driving plunger is so operated in the ordinary description
of double-acting ram, and no claim is made in respect of the apparatus which causes
the outward movement of the driving plunger and pump plunger. The return
plunger is thus forced forwards by the plunger F, and itself forces such plunger
and the driving plunger back again.
The lever L, having a handle at its outer end, is pivoted at its inner end to a
stem M forming the connection between the plungers A and F, and is fulcrumed
between a pair of links N (or within a jaw of a single link) pivoted at their
opposite ends to a lug O cast upon the frame or bed P of the ram. The apparatus
may be operated by means of this lever independently of the action of the falling
column, for the purpose of working the pump in case the supply of water for the
falling column fails, or to obtain a sufficient column in the rising main to give the
necessary pressure for causing the return action of the plungers. The pulsating
action of the falling column should, of course, to avoid risk of injury to the

page_text: operator, be stopped while the apparatus is worked by hand. The lever L, or
other suitable lever, may be connected up, as will be readily understood, for being
operated by a windmill or other motor, in case the water supply of the falling
column fails.
Other modifications of the invention are illustrated by the remaining views, each
of which corresponds to Figure 1 except that the drive apparatus which comprises
the chamber C and driving plunger is omitted, and also the lever L and links N
and a portion of the frame or bed P. In Figure 2 the pump plunger F is closed at
its outer end and works in a plain barrel G, and the return plunger b works in a
barrel a which is carried out from the end of the barrel G. The liquid driven past
the regulating valve e passes through a pipe g into the chamber H which receives the
liquid discharged through the delivery valve e from the barrel G. In Figure 3
the same arrangement is shewn as in Figure 2, except that the outflow chamber of
the valve-box in which the valve e is seated communicates with an air vessel .J', in
addition to communicating through a pipe g with the chamber H which communi-
cates with the air chamber J; and the upper portions of the two air chambers are
placed in communication with one another by means of a pipe h. In Figure 4 the
same arrangement is shewn as in Figure 2 except that the liquid flowing past the
valve e passes direct into a separate rising column communicating with a cistern Q,
instead of passing into the chamber H. In this modification the liquid forming the
column which causes the return stroke of the plungers is kept separate from that
which is pumped by the plunger F. It will be observed, however, that the column
of liquid which operates the plunger on the return or back stroke remains a
constant quantity, except for any loss by evaporation. In Figure 5 the pump
plunger F is replaced by a double-acting piston F1 working in a barrel G' which is
provided with two sets of suction and delivery valves so that the water is forced by
the piston F into the rising column, both on the outward and inward strokes of the
driving plunger. The pump barrel G' is shewn as fixed on the outer end of a
barrel a in which the return plunger 6 works, and in this case the return plunger b
is intermediate between the driving plunger and the pump piston F', and the two
plungers and piston are connected together in line and have a common axis. The
regulating valve e is placed conveniently on one side of the pump barrel a, and a
separate column for causing the return stroke of the plunger b is shewn as in the
case of the modification shewn by Figure 4. Other conditions being equal, the
return plunger bis made in this case of a larger diameter than when a single-acting
pump is used, as it is required to drive the piston F' backwards against the pressure
of water in the main delivery column in addition to moving the driving plunger
inwards. In some cases, such as when the pump has a long suction and low
delivery, the parts of a double-acting ram may be so arranged that the delivery
from the pump may take place on the back or return stroke only, the forcing stroke
of the pump being caused by the pressure against the return plunger.
It will be obvious that, in some cases, the modifications may be varied by
adopting a peculiar feature of one for the corresponding feature of another; for
instance, the modification shewn by Figure 1 may have the two columns distinct
from one another. In the modification shewn by Figure 4 a double-acting pump,
corresponding to the pump shewn by Figure 5, may be substituted for the single-
acting pump, and be placed in position (as such single-acting pump is) between the
driving plunger and the return plunger b. The modifications shewn by Figures 1, 2,
3 and 4 may be varied by placing the return plunger between the driving plunger
and the pump plunger.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A double-acting hydraulic ram in which the inward or return stroke is
caused by the pressure of a hydraulic column, substantially as described.
2. In a double-acting hydraulic ram in which the inward or return stroke is

page_text: caused by the pressure of a hydraulic column acting against a plunger or piston
working in a suitable barrel, a regulating valve past which the liquid is forced
out of such barrel during the outward stroke of the plunger or piston and which
may be adjusted to remain open to any required extent to regulate the back flow
of such liquid into the barrel, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
3. In a double-acting hydraulic ram, the outlet from the forcing pump barrel,
through which the liquid is forced to the main delivery pipe during the forward
stroke of the ram, formed reducing in width towards its end which is the nearer
to the end of the pump barrel, and placed in position along the barrel a short
distance from the end thereof so that it is completely covered by the pump
plunger or piston as it completes its outer stroke, substantially as described for
the purpose set forth.
4. In a double-acting hydraulic ram, the outlet from the forcing pump barrel,
through which the liquid is forced to the main delivery pipe during the forward
stroke of the ram, placed in position along the barrel a short distance from the end
thereof so that it is completely covered by the pump plunger or piston as it
completes its outer stroke, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination with a double-acting hydraulic ram of a lever by which the
same may be operated by hand, or by power other than that of the falling column,
substantially as described.
6. A double-acting hydraulic ram in which the inward or return stroke is caused
by the pressure of the column of liquid in the main delivery pipe acting against a
plunger or piston working in a suitable barrel, substantially as described.
7. A double-acting hydraulic ram in which the inward or return stroke is caused
by the pressure of a column of liquid independent of the main delivery column
acting against a plunger or piston working in a suitable barrel, substantially as
described.
8. In a double-acting hydraulic ram, the combination of a hollow plunger F
working within a barrel G, with a return plunger or piston b working within a
barrel a which is inside the barrel G, substantially as described and shewn by
Figure of the drawings herewith.
9. In a double-acting hydraulic ram, the combination of a plunger or piston F
working in a barrel G, with a return plunger b working in a barrel a extending
from the end of the barrel G, substantially as described and shewn by Figures 2, 3
and 4 of the drawings herewith.
10. A double-acting hydraulic ram having a double-acting pump which forces
liquid into the main delivery pipe both during the outward and inward stroke of
the ram, the inward or return stroke being caused by the pressure of a column of
liquid acting against a plunger or piston working in a suitable barrel, such as in
the modification illustrated by Figure 5 of the drawings herewith.
Dated this 18th day of February 1893.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.