i841.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



835 



IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF PISTONS AND VALVES, 

 FOR RETAINING OR DISCHARGING LIQUIDS, &c. 



Patented by Messrs. G. H, Palmer and Charles Perkins. 

 Fig. \. 



Fig. 1, is a plan of the piston, a section of which is showii by fig. 3. 

 AB the major, C D the minor diameter; the joint (by which the 

 pump rod is secured), is in the centre of the true line of the 

 major diameter A B, but neither in the centre of the pump or piston, 

 being removed therefrom more or less as the diameter of the pump, 

 the altitude of the column of water lifted, and other circumstances 

 may require. The whole area of the piston is therefore divided into 

 two unequal areas. 



Fig. 2, is a plan of the lower valve, which is fixed in the barrel by 

 means of the axle O, the eccentricity of which is regulated upon the 

 same principle as that of the joint in the upper valve or piston. 



Fig. 3, shows the relative position of the piston and valve during 



the upward or effective stroke. The dotted lines show the position of 

 the valves in the downward or return stroke. 



Figs. 4 and ">, are apian and section of a patent double balancing 

 valve, an ajiplication of the same principle as adapted for safety, or 

 any valves connected with steam engines or air pumps, also to lock 

 gates or sluices, and generally as a simple and effective mode of re- 

 taining or discharging liquids, gases and steam. The two valves being 

 of unequal, but the inner of the greater area, and the pressure upon 

 both, being in the same line of direction, it is evident that the power 

 to open or shut them may be determined at pleasure by regulating the 

 difference between the two areas, a 6 is the larger, and/y'the valve 

 of smaller area, each of which are connected with, and works'upon, 

 the axle M M, supported by carriages on the valve bed N N. The 

 valves a b and//, receive simultaneous action by means of the curved 

 lever or tail piece X. 



The patentees recommend the adoption of the patent elliptic self 

 adjusting balancing pistons in all pumps for whatever purposes in- 

 tended, as the most simple, durable and effective of any arrangement 

 now before the public. Simple, as is evident from the diagrams and 

 description herewith. Durable, because the process of raising water 

 from any depth is performed by two metallic discs, not liable to de- 

 rangement, and free from most casualties of climate, circumstance, or 

 wear. Eff'ective, first, because a very superior water way is obtained, 

 (there are no valves to clog or gag, no resting place for any extraneous 

 matter to impede the duty of the pump, whether it be sand or rubbish). 

 Secondlv, it will remove the evil arising from concussion in pumps of 

 large diameter; and thirdly, in consequence of the decreased amount 

 of friction, the service of a man in pumping is increased in the ratio 

 of nearly 3 to 1, as the following statement will demonstrate. 



The patentees have two 10 inch pumps, the levers G to 1, the stroke 

 8 inches, tlie column of water 5 feet; both pumps were made by Messrs. 

 Bramah and Robinson, in their best manner ; alike in all respects, except 

 that one is fitted with the usual packed bucket and butterfly valves, the 

 other with the patent piston and valve. In an experiment recently 

 made with weights over a pulley, it required the exertion of a force 

 equivalent to 4lil tb. to raise and deliver the water, (about 2 gallons), 

 and return the bucket with the packed pump, and only 19j Hi. to do 

 the same work with the patent pump ; making the labour to work the 

 two pumps in the ratio of 4i31 to 196 — 23 to lU. 



Another experiment was made for the patentees by Mr. Beale, of 

 Greenwich, sliowing similar advantages in the diminution of friction, 

 and consequently an increase power. The following is the result of 

 this experiment. 



A vessel of a capacity equal to 314-16 gallons = 31411b. was filled 

 by pumping 140 strokes in 4^ minutes, which was at the rate of 31 

 strokes per minute, and 2-244 gallons per stroke. The working barrel 

 of the pump was intended to be 10", but was said to have been turned 

 to 101 inches nearly. 



If the diameter was 10, then the delivery by comput- 

 ation in 140 strokes of 8" = .... 318 gallons. 



If the diameter was lOi, then the delivery ;= - - 330 



The actual delivery was by computation of the re- 

 ceiving vessel =^ ...... 314 



The average lift during this time was about six feet. 



In a second experiment the water in the well was kept at an average 

 height which, with pipes added to the exit pipe, made the total lift 

 15 feet 4 inches. 



Under these circumstances weights were applied to the end of the 

 lever, and it took 98 tb. x 6 the leverage to raise the column of water. 



Now 93 X 6 = 5 88 ft. 



The actual weight of a column of water lOJ" diameter and 



15 feet 4 inches in height, is ..... 550 lb. 



Leaving for friction in the up stroke only - - - 38 lb. 



As there was no friction in the down stroke or return of the piston, 

 it resnits that 38 lb. was the total amount of friction out of 588 lb. (ex- 

 erted), being only G-4G per cent, or -^ part. 



The velocity of the water may be taken at 20 feet per minute. 



In a third experiment, to produce a maximum effect, two men made 

 41 strokes in one minute, lifting the water 15 feet 4 inches, and de- 

 Itvering as per first experiment 2-244 gallons, or 22-44 tb. per stroke := 

 to 14107-28 lb. raised one foot high in one minute by two men, or 

 7053-G4 lb. raised one foot high in one minute by one man. 



Artificial Ice, — The projectors of the artificial ice plan have found a site 

 in the Ne«' Road, eppusite Lord's cricket ground. M'e have seen the com- 

 position, which seems to succeeJ, and the plan is approved by the Skating 

 Club. 



