US1265784A - Apparatus for raising or forcing liquids. - Google Patents

Description

H. A. HUMPHREY.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING 0R FORCING LIQUIDS- APPLICATION HLED FEB- 12. 1910. RENEWED FEB. 9.1911.

3 SHEEIS-SHEET I.

Patented May 14, 1918.

H. A; HUMPHREY.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING 0R FORCING LIQUIDS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I2. 1910. RENEWED FEB. 9,1917.

1,265,784. Patented Mayl l, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H.,A. HUMPHREY.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING 0R FORClNG LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. 1910. RENEWED FEB. 9.1917.

1 ,265,784. Patented May 14, 1918.

3 SHEEISSHEET 3- HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HUMPHREY GAS PUMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING 0R FOBCING LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1918.

Original application filed June 13, 1908, Serial No. 438,427. Divided and this application filed February 12,

1910, Serial No. 543,533. Renewed February 9, 1917. Serial No. 147,721.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 38 Victoria street, \Vestminster, in the county of London, England, consulting engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Raising or Forcing Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

In my copending application No. 438427, filed June 13, 1908, resulting in Patent No. 1,085,865, dated Feb. 3, 1914, of which this forms a division, I have described a method of and apparatus for raising and forcing liquid, wherein a column of liquid is propelled outwardly from a combustion chamber bythe energy of expansion of an ignited combustible charge, and in which a column of liquid flows inwardly toward the combustion chamber to expel products of combustion therefrom and to compress a fresh combustible charge in a second combustion chamber.

This invention also comprises improvements in valve gearing suitable for apparatus operated according to the -method referred to. and will be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which Figure 1 is a part vertical section of such apparatus with valve gearing, according to this invention, controlled by the liquid inlet valve of the apparatus: Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 and shows the valve gearing in a simplified form resulting from the omission of that part of the gear which is controlled by the liquid supply valve; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the head of the combustion chamber showing additional locking gear applicable to Figs. 1 and 2: Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a detail section and plan view of a switch shown in Fig. 2: Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the head of an apparatus similar to that in Fig. 1 but with another modified form of valve gearing, and Fig. 6 is a diagram of the ignition circuit and switch as applied to apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, 1 and 2 are combustion chambers shown broken across and much shortened vertically so as to permit the working parts to be drawn to a large scale. The combustion chambers communicate at their lower part with a supply pipe 3 and a discharge pipe 4, the latter being continued to a place of higher level or higher pressure. At the upper part of the combustion chambers are fitted admission valves 5 and 6 and exhaust valves 7 and 8, two other valves 9 and 10 are also shown below valves 5 and 6, the purpose of which will be explained later. The seatings of valves 7, 8, 9 and 10 are shown projecting some distance into the upper part of the combustion chambers with the object of forming a space in the latter in which an elastic cushion can be compressed to prevent shock from liquid which rises in the chambers striking the top of the chambers, and for other purposes presently explained.

The exhaust valves 7 and 8 in the pres-. ent example open under the action of their serve to limit their motion. On the valve stems are collars 13 and 14, and on the valve plugs are mounted pawls 15 and 16 own weight, and light springs 11 and 12 turning about pivots 17 and 18 and capable of engaging under the collars so as normally to keep the exhaust valves closed. The admission valves 5 and 6, for combustible mixture, open against the action of light springs 19 and 20 which close the valve when the difierence of pressure on the two sides of the valve becomes small enough. Admission valve 5 carries on its stem 2. fixed collar 21 and a pin 43, the former being constructed to engage with pawls 41 and 51 at certain parts of the cycle;.the pin engages with one end of bell crank 23. Similarlyvalve 6 has on its stem a collar 22 capable of engaging with pawls 42 and 52, and

'also carries a pin 44 which engages with one that the inlet valve of chamber 1 releases the exhaust valve of chamber 2, and in a similar manner the inlet valve of chamber 2 controls the exhaust valve of chamber 1.

Rod 28 carries a fixed collar 45, a spring 46, and a loose collar 47, and rod 27 caru corresponding set it, ill end A linlt 53 connects 51 end 52 end is of such length that the owls cennot be engaged siinultoneously with the collars 2l-encl 22 respectively. Lint: 58 carries two pins 55 end 56 capable of engnging with collars t? end 50 respectively in such e that the movements of rods 2? end 28 may be utilised to move the link 53 end osvvls 51 end 52.

Attached to the stem oi liquid supply valve 82 is o. svvivel 38 to which is fastened a rod 3% etteched to hell crenlr 35 turning about ivot 36. This bell crenh has u goin end slot connection 37 with nod 38, the other end of which is pivoted st 39 to end connection is carried to the pawl ll by means of soother rod 59 pivoted 39 end 40. The length of rod 59 is such that bowls t1 end 4-2 may not be simultaneously engaged under the collars 2i and 22. Thus, when liquid sup-bly valve 32 opens rod 3 lis drown clovvnvverd end petvls ll and l2 are moved to the right leaving edniission valve i'ree to open which is not otherwise kept shut by one of the owls attached to linlt 53.

'lhe action of the is es fob lower-ll; is assumed that all the valves are in the position shown, th-st o. corogpr sse combustible charge is in the upper goortion of chamber 2, end that liquid the vvhole of chamber 1 except for e specs in the top thereof which contains e. compressed elastic cushion. lgnition novv occurs chamber. 2 end for this purpose it sparking plug 22 is provided in o recess in the edrois sion volve' cestin Combustion starts in this recess and spreeds pest volve l so the vvhole combustible charge is fired. The rise of pressure drives the liquid in combustion chamber 2 downward and outward irons. the combustion chamber along the discharge pipe. the the tvvo chambers communicate the increesed pressure oi the liquid in chember 2 is transmitted to the liquid in chemb-er' l and the elastic cushion in the top of chord her 1 is further compressed. As the expansion in chamber 2 continues tovvorcl utmosoheric pressure s, moment arrives when the press re of the liquid ebove and belovv valve 32 is the some, and lurther expansion causes this valve to open so that liquid from the supply tank Bl (Fig. 2) flows into the opporotus to lollovv the liquid moving in the discharge 'nipe. The movement oi valve 32 releases pevrl ll from under collar 21 on the stein of udrnission valve 5. At this time the level of liquid in chamber 2 is lower then the liquidin chamber-1 end the pressure in chember2 cannot support the liquid in che ber 1 so thet e dovvnvvord motion of the liquid in chamber 1 occurs, drevvingiu 2t lresli coinbustible chorge through the inlet valve end past valve 9, the letter opening outemeticelly under its ovrn Weight as soon the pressure in chamber l is relieved. Volvo o spring it when the chorus been to permit e. considerable portion oi the ener y of combustion to be transformed into Zinetic energy of the outwardly moving column of liquid in the discharge "pipe, this colunni continues to move tovverd the piece ot higher level or pressure tor some time otter the pressure in the combustion cboinbei" has fallen thet re resented by the heed orqoressure to ch t e liquid is ruined so that eupnnsion'mey be curried to ethicspheric pressure. en odinission valve 5 opened to the lresh combustible cherge into cheinberl the valve in cheniber 2 released in o. elreedy described,

consequently "when the piessure ct expansion i is low enough in chamber 2 valve 8 opens end some of liquid cm the supply is free to rise in chamber 2 end expel burnt products through the exhoust valve 8,

Thecyole has new arrived ut the oint.

in churnber 1 there is it fresh minibustiole charge, the inlet valve 5 end the enhnust velve '2' ere shut, and the valve 9 is open. ln chamber 2 there are some products of combustion in the. upper portion oi the chenriber liquid in the lovver portion of the chamber, the inlet velve b is shut, but the enhnust'velve 8 (which opened before volve 5 closed} and valve 10 ore open.

The outward Flow oi liquid in the discharge pipe noving ceased, an inwardly moving colunin of liquid commences to flow under the ectionoi its bend or pressure. Liquid inlet valve 32 shuts outouieticolly, end the inflowing liquid tends to rise in both chambers but as there is s free outlet for the burnt gases from the top of choniber 2 While there is no outlet for the combustible charge in chamber 1 the returning" liquid rises st first only slowly in chamber} and more quicmy in chamber 2. When the rising liquid strikes valve 10 and exhaust valve 8 itshuts these valves. Exhaust valve 8 is locked by moons of pevvl dischevge pipe being suficiently long ill) 16 "which is pulled into position to engege 1 under collar it by spring 58 and valve lo is. held up by the pressure oi the. rising liquid which compresses the elastic cushion, in this case consisting of u portion of the burnt products inclosed in the top of the cheinber. This elastic cushion will expand again to some extent and the pressure will tell somewhat, but neither valve 6 nor valve 8 "will open because the former hes been loclred by pawl l2 which returned to the position shown When volve 32 closed, end

valve 8 is locked by pawl lb. The flovv oil liquid into chamber 2 having been checked, the liquid novv rises further in chamber 1, compressing thecombustible ohorge therein until the lnnetic energy of the column of liquid is expendeclond the liquid brought 7 tion- .to spring 58.

to rest, having stored energy in the compressed combustible charge and the com pressed elastic cushion. As the volume of the compressed combustible charge is such that the level of liquid in chamber 1 does not reach valve 9, this valve remains open and ignition now occurs by means of a sparking plug 30, and the cycle described commences afresh with the difference that this time the functions of the respective chambers are reversed.

When valve 5 opened and its pin 43 moved b ell crank 23, releasing the exhaust valve on chamber 2, collar on rod 27 engaged pin 56 on link 53, thus moving this link to the left and compressing spring 49. As valve 5 shuts before valve 8 the collar 14 engaging against the side of pawl 16 keeps rod 27 sufiiciently toward the leftv while valve 5 shuts, and then link 53 completes its movement causing pawl 51 to engage under collar 21, thus lockin valve 5 and at the same time releasing paw 52 from under collar 22. Either of the positions of link 53 is rendered stable. by spring 54, which tends to keep link 53 in its lowest positions. The spring 57 has a similar func- These various movements are. for the purpose of bringing all the valve gear into the right position for starting the new cycle as mentioned above.

In order that ignition may' occur alternately in the two chambers, the movement of link 53 may be utilized to operate a switch, so that when link 53 is to the right ignition plug 29 is in circuit, and when the link is to the leftjignition plug 30 is in circuit. See Fig. 6.

Fig. 2 shows the apparatus in a somewhat simplified form resultingfrom the omission of that part of the valve gear which is controlled from the liquid supply valve 32 together with link 53 and pawls 51 and 52 shown on Fig. 1, and the action of the apparatus with the simplified gearing will now be described As before, it is assumed that the valves 6 are in the position shown and that ignition through valves 5 and 9.v When the out-' wardly moving column of liquid comes to rest and the inward flow of liquid com mences, liquid from the supply tank 31 has risen in chamber 2 and valve 32'has' shut again. The inwardly moving liquid now rises in chamber 2 expelling the products of combustion through valve 8 which was released by'the opening of valve 5, by the action of pin- 43, bell crank 23 and link 27 y asin the case of Fig. 1. On arriving .valves 8 and 10 the liquid shuts them by impact. Valve 8 is at once locked by pawl 16, but in this construction there is no pawl to lock admissionl valve 6, consequently, when the products of combustion remaining in the top of chamber 2 are compressed by the rising liquid after valves 8 and 10. are shut, and then these products forming the elastic cushion expand imparting momentum to the liquid so that it falls below the level corresponding with atmospheric pressure, combustible mixture is drawn into chamber 2 through valves 6 and 10, both of these valves being opened by the suction. The opening of valve 6 releases pawl 15 from under collar 13 on exhaust valve 7, but as the inwardly flowing column of liquid is already compressing the combustible charge in chamber 1 valve 7 .does not open and when valve 6 shuts again pawl 15 again engages under collar 13 and the inwardly flowing liquid now rises in both chambers until maximum compression has been attained in chamber 1 and a fresh cycle is started by the sparking at plug 30 producing ignition. The increased pressure produced by combustion propels the liquid from chamber 1 and causes further compression .of the gaseous contents of chamber 2, and the energy stored in both chambers is then utilized in the outward propulsion of liquid. When expansion has proceeded far enough in chamber 1 the quantity of combustible mixture to make up the re quired charge is drawn into chamber 2 through valve 6,- and the movement of valve '6. withdraws pawl 15 from under collar '13 nately in the two chambers there is shown in the case just described a switch 60 capable of being turned into two positions by projections 61 and 62 attached to rods 28 and 27, adapted to engage against switch arms 64 and 65. Details of the switch are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. There are four spring contact pieces in two pairs, 67 and 68 constitutin one pair and 69 and 70 the other pair. v hese contact pieces of conducting material are insulated from one another and are so spaced that the two pieces forming one pair may be bridged by a metal tongue 66 carried by switch arm 63 rotating about pivot 71. In Fig. 4 where the parts are drawn in plan, the metal tongue 66 is in a central position and does not make electrical contact with any of the contact pieces, but a small movement in either direction closes the circuit between 67 and 68 or between 69 and 70, thus determining such as thet described in my ep plico tion No. one i, opecetes the switch which times the ibnition.

It is sometimes desirehle-to prevent the opening of the edncission velve in that chemh er in which the coinpressed elestic cushion hes justly expended without having resource to any mechanism actuated by the liquid supply valve 32. ln this case advantage may be taken of the feet that when the elastic cushion expands in one chamber there is already a, pressure in the other chamber set up by the returning mess otliquid which is flowing inwardly to compress the coin bustible charge. For this purpose there are fitted in the castings l2 which close the tops of the chambers two double seated piston valves ?3 end i l, as shown in l 'ig. 2 where both the valves ere against their top costings. @n the stems of these valves are pins end it engaging with the forked arms of hell cranks 77 end 78 rototing about pivots 79, 80 and connected with rods 81 and 82 pivoted to po '13 all end 83 respectively, The weight of the moving parts may be so balanced that with e slight en cess of pressure in chambers l and E2 shove atmosphere piston-valves l3 end 7 ltelze up the position shown, but when the pressure inside the chambers falls approximately to that of the atmosphere pistonvalves ?8 end 74 fell to theii lower sects, thus actuating the bell cranks '2"? end l8 and moving rods 81 82 to release pswls 8% end 83 ivoni under the collars end 21 on the stems of the admission valves. it will thus be seen thet the admission valve 5 on chamber 1 cannot open when the pres sure in chamber 2 exceeds the pressure at which piston velve 'l' l is adjusted to move against its upper sent, and consequently there can be no admission through valve 5 except at the end of the working stroke in chamber 2. The valve 6 on chamber 2 is similarly controlled by piston valve ?'3 on chamber 1. This arrangement as described in connection with Fig. 2* can be fitted in conjunction with other valve goers described in this specificeton in substitution for those ports of such gears that are for the purpose of preventing the combustible inlet valves from opening under suction at any time during the cycle except when there is suction upon one of the inlet valves in conjunctionv with low liquid pressure in the combustion chembers.

- ln epplicction l lo. 438%25 there has been described evolve mechanism in which the admission end exhaust valves mutuelly control one another, and the gear has been illustrated in reference to Fig. 2 therein.

The same type of gear is opp-liceble to the present invention but it is pre ersble to con :11 i,eec, v

the action will the two pewls 85 end 86 by on eddi= tionel linl: 93 as shown in Fig. 5 oi the se-= compsnying drawings. These pswls engsge with sellers 21 end soon the stems of niission valves 5 and 6 respectively. In starting the opperetus it is necessary to see that thepewls are in their correct position eccording' to which chumber is to produce the first workinc' stroke, and then afterward addition of link 93 the gear attached to the admission and exhaust valves of chamber it operates as follows-- Adinission valve-5 opens under suction, ondin closing under the action of a spring, releases the exhaust valve '2, which is then tree to open when the pressure witlnn the combustion Cllitl'llbfi falls to a, suitable extent, The exhaust valve 'Z' is shut by inipect oi liquid upon it and in closing releases the admission valve 5, and the valves on shutting are locked until released storeseidu The valve gear attached to chamber 2 acts in at similar manner.

e chief object in connecting together the two pewls 85 end 86 by link 93 is to allow only one odmission Valve to open at s time. The operation of the gear just described is somewhat modified by the introduction of this link in that it prevents the pawl attached to the admission valve on one chamber from engaging under the coller on the stem of this valve until the pswl controlling the opening of the exhaust valve on the other chamber engages under the coller etteched to the stem of the last mentioned valve, and this action occurs when this valve shuts; To prevent the admission velves opening when the expansion of the elastic cushion occurs two additional pewls 4-1 and d2, engaging under the callers oi the admission valves 5 and 6, may be added and operated by the link 59, slotted rod 38, bell crank 35, and rod 8% as explained with reference to 1, these parts being moved by the liquid supply valve. The arrangement described in connection with Fig. 5 is also applicable to this case.

it will be necessary, as in the previous enemplee, so to arrange the electrical ignition circuits that it is only possible to obtain sperlzs st ignition plug 29 when there is e combustible charge in chamber 2, or sparks ct ignition plug 80 when there is e combustible charge in chamber 1. ln the present example this is provided "for by fitting link 93 with a projection 94 cepable oi inching e automatic. Without the electric contact between a central contact sets of ignition oppsrstns 9i and 92, the l ignition plug 30 being electrically connected with 91, and similarly plug 29 with 92. This arrangement secures that when a charge is introduced into one chamber the ignition apparatus connected with this chamber is operative and the other ignition apparatus is inoperative, the movement of link 93 making the required changes for the alternate ignition in the two chambers.

Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim v 1. In apparatus for raising or forcing liquid having two combustion chambers each fitted with an admission valve for combustible mixture and an exhaust valve for burnt products, and a play pipe having free and uninterrupted communication with. said combustion chambers wherein a column of liquid of suflicient bulk and path of travel to acquire useful momentum is propelled outwardly by the energy of expansion of an ignited combustible charge and a column of liquid flows inwardly toward the chambers to expel burnt products from one chamber and compress a fresh combustible charge in another chamber, and means whereby the admission valve in each chamber controls the exhaust valve in the other chamber.

2. In apparatus for raising orforcing liquid having two combustion chambers each fitted with an admission valve for combustible mixture and an exhaust valve for burnt products, and a liquid supply valve, and a play pipe having free and uninterrupted communication with said combustion chambers wherein a column of liquid of suficient bulk and path of travel to acquire useful momentum is propelled outwardly by the energy of expansion of an ignited combustible charge and a column of liquid flowsinwardly toward the chambers to expel burnt products from one chamber and comprem a fresh combustible charge in another chamber, means whereby the admission valve in each chamber controls the exhaust valve in the other chamber, and means hereby the liquid supply valve controls the said admission valves.

3. In apparatus for raising or forcing liquid having two combustion chambers each fitted with an admission valve for combustible mixture and an exhaust valve for burnt products, and ignition circuits for causing ignition in the chambers, and wherein a column of liquid is propelled outwardly by the energy of expansion of an ignited combustible charge and a column of liquid flows inwardly toward the chambers to expel burnt products from one chamber and compress a fresh combustible charge in another chamber, mechanism whereby the admission valve in each chamber controlsthe exhaust valve in the other chamber and means whereby the said mechanism also controls the ignition circuits for causing ignition in the chambers in turn.

4. In apparatus for raising or forcing liquid having a liquid supply valve, two combustion chambers each fitted with an admission valve for combustible mixture and an exhaust valve for burnt products, and ignition circuits for causing ignition in the chambers, and wherein "a column of liquid is propelled outwardly by the energy of expansion of an ignited combustible charge and a column of liquid flows inwardly toward the chambers to expel burnt products from one chamber and compress a fresh combustible charge in another chamber, mechanism whereby the admission valve of each chamber controls the exhaust valve of the other chamber, means whereby the said mechanism also controls the ignition circuits for causing ignition in the chambers in turn, and is itself controlled by the liquid supply valve.

5. In apparatus for raising or forcing liquid having two combustion chambers each fitted with an admission valve for combustible mixture and a cooperating exhaust valve for burnt products, and wherein a column of liquid is propelled outwardly by the energy of expansion of an ignited combustible charge and a column of-liquid' flows inwardly toward the chambers to expel burnt products from one chamber and compress a fresh combustible charge in another chamber, means whereby the admission valve in each combustion chamber opens under suction and in automatically closing releases the cooperating exhaust valve which exhaust valve is then free to open when the ressure within its combustion chamber has allen to a suitable extent, and is adapted to be shut by impact of liquid and in closing to release the cooperating admission valve, and means whereby each valve on shutting is locked until released as aforesaid.

6. In apparatus for raising or forcing liquid having two combustion chambers each fitted with an admission valve for combus tible mixture and an exhaust valve for burnt products, and a play pipe having free and uninterrupted communication with said combustion chambers wherein a column of liquid of suflicient bulk and path of travel to acquire useful momentum is propelled outwardly by the energy of expansion of an ignited combustible charge and a column of liquid flows inwardly toward the chambers to expel burnt products from one chamber and compress a fresh combustible charge in another chamber, and means adapted to prevent the two admission valves being opened simultaneously.

7. In apparatus for raising or forcing liquid havmg two combustion chambers eac fitted with an admission valve for combustiand, igniting means in said combustion chamber, the parts arranged and controlled whereby liquid is reciprocated freely in the play pipe, certain movements in the reciprocation being dueto the expansive force whereby fresh liquid and fresh expansible charges are entrained and whereby the flow of the liquid into said chambers at each cycle to expel burnt products from one chamber and to compress a fresh charge in the other chamber.

15. Apparatus for utilizing .an expansive force, consisting of a play pipe, a plurality of expansion chambers having free and uninterrupted communication with the play pipe, and said chambers having suitable inlet and outlet valves and suitable control therefor, and also igniting means whereby liquid is freely reciprocated in the play pipe, certain movements thereof being due to the expansive force and the momentum of the liquid is utilized in storing energy in expelling burnt products from one chamber and entraining and compressing a fresh charge in another chamber at each cycle.

16. The combination of a play pipe for the reciprocation of a body of liquid of sufficient bulk and path of travel to enable it to acquire useful momentum, a plurality of expansion chambers in free communication with the play pipe and having intake and discharge valves as means for causing an outstroke of the liquid by the force of an expansible charge in an expansion chamber and means for utilizing the kinetic energy of the outstroke to introduce a fresh expan sible charge.

17. The combination of a play pipe for the reciprocation of a body of liquid of sufficient bulk and path of travel to enable it to acquire useful momentum, a plurality of expansion chambers in free communication with the play pipe and having intake and discharge valves as' means for causing an outstroke of the liquid by. the force of an expansible charge in an expansion chamber and means for utilizing the kinetic energy of a return stroke to expel burnt products from one chamber and to compress a fresh expansible charge in another chamber in the same cycle 18. The combination of a play pipe for the reciprocation of a body of liquid of sufficient bulk and path of travel to enable it to acquire useful momentum, a plurality of expansion chambers in free communication with the play pipe and having intake and discharge valves as means for causing an outstroke of the liquid by the force of an expansible charge in an expansion chamber and means for utilizing the kinetic energy of the outstroke to introduce a fresh expansible charge and the kinetic energy of the return stroke to exhaust one chamber and to compress a fresh expansible charge in another chamber in the same cycle.

19. The combination of a play pipe for the reciprocation of a body of liquid of sufficient bulk and path of travel to enable it to acquire useful momentum, a plurality of expansion chambers in free communication therewith and having intake and discharge valves as means for causing an outstroke by the force of an expansible charge in an expansion chamber, and means for utilizing the kinetic energy of the return stroke to compress a fresh expansible charge in another chamber and to exhaust the first chamher, and means for utilizing the kinetic energy of the outstroke to introduce part of an expansible charge and the kinetic energy of another outstroke, due to the elastic cushion in one expansion chamber, to intro- HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY.

Witnesses: v JosnPH MILLARD, WALTER I. SKEBTEN.

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