US1135189A - Pulsometer. - Google Patents

Description

A. Hl W. jOHNSUN, DECD.

L. H.1ONNsON,xEcuTR|x.

P|J| ;S0N|E`I'ER` APPLICATION man JUNE 23. 1.914.

llg., Patented Apr., 13, 1915.

I i llll1 wim/ifs; n l VE R em/4 @wb/L d HE No. RIS PETERS |70` PHoTo-LlTHO.. WASHINGTON, D C

ibn.

AUGUSTUS H. W. JOHNSGN, DECEASED, LATE OF LARCHMONT, NEW YORK, BY LOUISE H. JGHNSON, EXECUTRIX, OF LARCHMONT, NEW YORK.

PULSOMETEB..

LTSJH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. i3, i915.

Application filed I une 23, 1914. Serial No. 846,748.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known thatAUG-USTUS JOHNSON, deceased, late of Larchmont, in the county of TWestchester and State of New York, during his lifetime invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pulsometers, and that l, LOUISE H. JOHNSON, eXecutriX under the last will and testament of the said AUGUST H. W. JOHNSON, do hereby declare, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that the following specification, taken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part of the same, is a clear, true, and complete description of said improvements.

His invention relates to an improvement in pulsometers in which he employs meansvertically placed spring-returned check valves, in an inverted position, as an example-to close the passageway from the top of the pump cylinders to the center or steam-distributing valve against the admission of water or other substance being pumped to the Space between the said check valves and the steam-distributing valve dur ing the period of induction and have the said check valves remain closed against such admission or the admission of a further supply from a bypass, after the vacuum has been satisfied until opened by a fresh supply of steam admitted by the moving of the steam-distributing valve to its opposite seat, due to the action of the vacuum created in the opposite pump cylinder.

The improvement is of great value, not only in economy in the consumption of steam, but in accelerating the function or periods of emptying and filling the pump cylinders, thereby increasing the pumping capacity of the pulsometer, and in still another important respect of making unnecessary the accurate adjustment of the valve which controls the admission of steam to the pulsometer from the source of steam supply, and still further, of the accurately .timed and quantity of air admitted to the pump cylinders through the air valves. A material increase of steam admitted, which would ordinarily disturb the operation of the pulsometer without his device, does not appear to disturb the regularity of the functioning of the pulsometer with his device.

There are still other advantages which flow from this, his improvement in pu1someters, which will be set forth later.

Perhaps the improved pulsometer will be more. readily understood by first briefly describing the conventional form of pulsometer, and following that description with a disclosure of his improved pulsometer, by which he attained the objects hereinbefore referred to.

Figure l is a view principally in vertical section of the conventional form of pulsometer with his improvement of check-valves; Fig.. 2 is a view chiefly in vertical section of his improved pulsometer with check valves, and of a new form of center or steam-distributing valve; Fig. 3 is a face view of a form of center or steam-distributing valve.

Similar reference letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The conventional form of pulsometer may be described as follows, having reference to the figures of the drawings to aid the description: The steam pipe E2 is connected at E and the suction pipe at S. C is an air chamber that has no connection with B and A, but communicates with the suction pipe by means of the opening I, situated below the suction valves F and G. The two latter valves are made of flat rubber and are held to their seats, as shown by means of the spindles R and T. The spindles are raised and lowered, as the case may require, by means of the bolts f and e. H, H, are plates lthat may be removed to facilitate the eX- amination of the valves. l) is a ball that acts as a valve for admitting the steam to the chambers A and B. M and N are exhaust valves, as indicated, made of rubber and situated in a chamber L attached to the pump. They are raised and lowered in the same manner as the suction valves by turning the bolts g and h. K is the delivery or column pipe.

The action of the pulsometer is as follows: Both chambers A and B are filled with water to about the height of the water in B. The valve E is -then opened and the steam enters one of the two chambers A and B. Suppose it enters B, the valve D being at the right, as shown. The water in B will be forced through the delivery valve N into and up the column pipe K. This will continue until the water level gets below the edge of the discharge opening P. At this point the steam and water miX in the discharge passage and the steam is condensed, creating a vacuum in B. The pressure in A is now greater than that in B, owing to the vacuum in B,

' F, and into the chamber B, filling it.

and the ball valve D is shifted to the left, Vthe steam entering the chamber A and driving the water through M into the passage O and column pipe K in the manner just described. While this is being done, the pressure of the atmosphere forces the water up the suction pipe S, opening the suction valve llVhen the suction valve is closed, owing to the reshifting of the ball valve D to the other side, the suction water enters the air chamber C through the inlet I' and is brought gradually to rest by the compression of the air in C,thus preventing a shock owing'to the sudden stoppage of the inflowing water. When the water in A has reached the level shown,

the steam kin A is condensed, the ball D is shifted to the right.

Three small air .valves,., and 0 are shown. rllhe valve@ admits air to the air chamber. C, to replenish that which is lost through leakage and through absorption by the water. The valves a and l) admit a small quantity of air to the chambers A and B, respectively, just before 'the suction be gins. This injures the suction somewhat, but is necessary for two reasons: First, it acts as. a regulator, governing the amount of water admitted to the chambers; and, second,'it prevents the steam from condensing before the water gets below. the edge of the discharge outlet. These valves open inward, as before stated. VSuppose there is a vacuum in A owing tothe condensation of the steam'. The atmospheric pressure forces vopen-the valve a and admits alittle air to the cylinder. rl`he incoming water compresses thisl air and soon closes the valve.

4,lfVhen the air has been compressed to such an extent'as to balance the outside pressure of the atmosphere,the suction valve G will close and no more water can get in. Since the same thing occurs in the other chamber, it is revidentthat the amount of air admitted controls the amount of water admitted during the suction period, more water entering when there is less air in the chamber and viceversa. The admission of the air is controlled by turning the valves a and Z), and these vcan be so adjusted that the suction valve in either chamber will close at the instant the ball is shifted to the other side, ad- -mitting the steam'. `Moreover, the air prel.vents the steam from coming 'm contact with the water during the forcing process, until the water lever has sunk below the edge of the discharge orifice. Air being a poor conductor of heat, the steam does not condense until the mixture of the steam and water has taken place.

It will be observed from the construction and mode of operation of the pulsorneter that there is a dynamic thrust of water as it fills the pumping cylinders or chambers. It has been found in practice that if this thrust of water filling the chambers is not modified, it will force the steam distributing valve ball, D, which controls the admission of steam to the chambers, out of its scat prematurely, and thereby create a disturbance of function. The measure of this disturbance will depend upon the vertical elevation or horizontal distance or both combined of the pulsometer from the source of water or other liquid supply. Heretofore this disturbance of function has been modified by inserting anair chamber in the induction pipe, by the admission of a small quantity of air to the pumping chambers, A and B, during each vacuum period, by means of suitable valves, a and or by throttling the induction conduit, S. In the invention disclosed and claimed herein, two vertically disposed check valves, A and B', are placed in an inverted position between the steam inlet passageways, a and b Fig. l, and the passageways a2 and b2 at the top of the pumping chambers A and B, respectively, and so arranged that they will permit the free passage of steam downward to the pumping chambers, but stop the upward thrust of the water in the pumping chambers through the passageways a? and b2 and into the steam passageways a and b and against the steam-distributing ball valve D. rllhe function of the two inverted check valves, A and B', is thus to prevent the thrust of the'water in the pumping chambers A and B, from prematurely unseating the steam-distributing valve, D, and thereby causing a disturbance of function, which was first above alluded to as an objection in pulsometers. rlhe stems, .3 and b3 of the check valves, A and B, have coiled springs a* and b4 thereon, held on the stems against slipping olf of the ends thereof by cotter pins, a and rEhese springs are compressedbetween the pins and spiders, a and bc, secured to the wall of the passa gcways a and b, and through the center of which spiders, the stems, a and b, of the check valves A and B are guided and free to move. The compression of the springs is adjusted to be sufficient to hold the check valves in their seats normally, but to allow the valves to be unseated maturely by the steam for its free passage downward to the pumping chambers, A and B. t will thus be seen that the check valves, A and B', remain closed against the admission of water to the steam passages a and b after the vacuum has been satisfied until they are opened by a fresh supply of steam admitted by the shifting of the steam-distributing valve to its opposite seat due to the action of the vacuum just created in the opposite pumping chamber. Because of the certainty that the ball valve, D, will not be prematurely unseated, an accurate adjustment of the valve or cock, E', in the steam supply pipe,

E2, controlling the admission of steam from the supply pipe to the pulsometer, is not necessary or essential, and yet there will be no waste of steam, but an economy, because, by the steamdistributing valve D remaining seated until the proper moment to be shifted from its seat, no portionv of the steam will be divided or diverted from one passageway to the other when it is intended that all the steam shall be discharged into one passageway; furthermore, the function or period of emptying and filling of the pump chambers is accelerated by the fact that the steam-distributing valve D remains seated, as explained above, thereby increasing the pumping capacity of the pulsometer. As has been explained of the conventional pulsometer, there are, near the top of the pumping chambers and the air chambers, inwardlyopening air check valves, a, and c which automatically admit a small quantity of air at each pulsation, at the moment the vacuum is formed. rihis layer of air in the pumping chambers serves two purposes: First, it cushions the inrushing water; secondly, it forms what may be termed an air piston or plenum, separating the steam and water, and preventing the steam from being condensed at the beginning of the stroke. ln the pulsometer provided with the inverted check valves, A and B", the careful adjustment of the air check valves, a, Z) and c, is not necessary or essential, since it appears that an admission of more or less quantity of air than is actually and properly necessary or desirable will not disturb the regularity of the functioning of the pulsometer.

ln the form shown in Fig. 2, the steamdistributing valve has the reference character, D, applied to it, and is shown as having double or two faces, Z and being substantially wedge-shaped, taken, say, through the cross-section of a cylinder, with the valve supported by trunnions or lugs, d2 projecting 'from the thin edge of the wedge, and rounded off, and resting on the cap plate, d3, from which the steam passages, (Zt, rip-spring, and are drawn in or inclined toward each other, and between the faces, (Z5, of the free ends or orifices of the steam ',uassiiges, between which the valve is placed, the planes of the faces of the orifices being inclined toward each other, of the same general inclination as the faces of the wedgeshaped valve, except that there is enough difference between the angles of inclination of the faces of the oriiices and wedge-shaped valve to allow the valve to be oscillated or rocked alternately from one seat to the other with a range just suiiicient to admit the necessary volume of steam for each pressure period of the pulsometer. The valve will be oscillated from its seat in the orifice or entrance to one pumping chamber to its seat in the entrance to the other chamber, serving the purpose of steam distribution with a certainty, regularity, and unfailing exactitude, keeping its seat until the proper moment to leave it and preserving a steamtight fit over a long period of operation.

It is plain that the wedge-shaped valve can be retained in its place on the cap plate, da by any suitable expedient; in the Fig. 2, a collar or lug ci, subserving that purpose is shown surrounding the trunnions, d2.

What is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a pulsoineter, pumping chambers, air inlet valves in said chambers, a steam valve, passages leading from said steam valve to said chambers, and valves in said passages to permit the passage of steam therethrough to the pumping chambers, but to close said Apassages to the flow therethrough of the contents of the pumping chambers to prevent premature unseating of the steam valve by dynamic thrust against it of the contents of said pumping chambers.

2. ln a pulsometer, pumping chambers, air inlet valves in said chambers, a steam valve, passages leading from said steam valve to said chambers, and automatically operable valves in said passages to permit the passage of steam therethrough to the pumping chambers but to close the said passages to the iiow therethrough of the contents of the pumping chambers to prevent premature unseating of the steam valve by the dynamic thrust against it of the contents of the pumping chambers.

3. Ina pulsometer, pumping chambers, air inlet valves in said chambers, a steam valve, passages leading from said steam valve to said chambers, and spring returnable inverted check valves in said passages, to permit the passage therethrough of steam to the pumping chambers, but to close the said passages to the iiow therethrough of the contents of the pumping chambers to prevent premature unseating of the steam valve by the dynamic thrust against it of the contents of the pumping chambers.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of J une, 1914, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUISE H. JOHNSON, Emecutm'w.

Witnesses:

WM. J. BEROW, G. M. QUINLAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

Images