Water pump

“ Engraving, Fig. 243, represents a Quintuplex pump used principally in mining operations, or wherever large quantities of water are to be delivered under high pressure in the shortest possible space of time. The pump here shown was designed to deliver 225 gallons of water per minute under a head of 1,200 feet. It has five plungers 4 inches in diameter each and having a uniform stroke of 12 inches.
These pumps driven by electric motors it is said represent the most economical method of transmitting power, as compared with the best designs of steam pumps. An efficiency of 80 per cent. ”

“ Owing to the very high speed at which these pumps are liable to be run during a fire, all the working parts are made excessively strong, and the valve area and water passages are larger than usual. The interior of each Underwriter pump is treated with a rust-proof coating, and every precaution taken so that the pump will start instantly after an indefinite period of disuse. ”

“ Power pumps can be used only where the character of the sewage will not clog the valves nor corrode the pump. A direct-acting steam pump is one in which the steam and water cylinders are in the same straight line and the steam is used at full boiler pressure throughout the full length of the stroke. The crank-and-fly-wheel type of pumping engine permits the use of steam expansively during a part of the stroke, the energy stored in the flywheel carrying the machine through the remainder of the stroke. Reciprocating pumps are sometimes classified as plunger pumps and piston pumps. ”

“ The high-class turbine pumps of to-day are simply machines in which the water is given a velocity which is partially changed to pressure before discharge, and the pump is designed so that the well-known actions, outlined above, proceed along natural lines, which are, to use the common phrase, lines of least resistance. It is simply a question of careful design.
The modern pump causes the water to flow along paths naturally due to the forces acting and to guide the stream in such a way as to avoid the production of eddies and whirls within itself which so enormously cut down the efficiency. ”

“ If the water level is less than twenty feet below ground, a shallow-well pump will be perfectly adequate and as it is much less expensive than the more elaborate deep-well pump, we recommend its use if possible. Most plumbers invariably advise the deep-well pump, especially for driven wells. They do this in all honesty and with no ulterior motive. There is always a bare chance that the water level may drop below the suction limit of the shallow pump under abnormal pressure. ”

“ When the pump is started to work and this drain cock is opened, and the hot water in the pipes drained off, the globe valve is then opened, and after a few strokes of the plunger, the water will begin to flow out through the drain cock, which is then closed, and you may be reasonably certain that the pump is working all right. If at any time you are in doubt as to whether the pump is forcing the water through the pipes, you can easily ascertain by opening this drain cock. It will always discharge cold water when the pump is working. ”

“ This pump is very popular with the users of power driven pumps and is generally selected for high pressures and for hot or gritty water. Its simplicity of design and construction, together with the convenient arrangement of working parts, renders it desirable in isolated places where little attention is given to any kind of pumps. ”

“ Fig. 95. Improvised Trench Pump.
Pumps for dewatering trenches must be proof against injury by sand, mud, and other solids in the water. For this purpose pumps with wide passages and without valves or packed joints are desirable. The types of pumps used are: simple flap valve pumps improvised on the job, diaphragm pumps, jet pumps, steam vacuum pumps, centrifugal pumps, and reciprocating pumps. All are of the simplest of their type and little attention is paid to the economy of operation because of the temporary nature of their service. ”

“ If you have sufficient water, it may be that there is air in the pump chamber, and the only way that it can get in is through the stuffing box around the plunger, if the pipes are all tight. Give this stuffing nut a turn, and if the pump starts off all right, you have found the trouble, and it would be well to re-pack the pump the first chance you get.
If the trouble is not in the stuffing box, go to the tank and see if there is anything over the screen or strainer at the end of the hose. If there is not, take hold of the hose and you can tell if there is any suction. ”

“ It is clear then, that however high the pump may be above the level of the water, the water cannot rise more than 34 feet up the suction pipe, even though all the air be excluded from it and a perfect vacuum formed, because the propelling force, that is, the atmospheric pressure, can only raise a column of water equal in weight to itself, and it is found in practice to be an unusually good pump that will lift water thirty feet. ”

“ When attached to a hydrant or plug, do not run the engine faster than the water will flow to supply the pump, and if the supply is not sufficient to allow the pump to work to its full capacity, avoid using too large nozzles. ”

“ The governor is not only intended to maintain a uniform water pressure in the mains, but to prevent the pump from racing whenever a greater quantity of water is demanded than the pump is capable of delivering, as in the case of bursted mains or hose, or any other contingency whereby the pressure upon the discharge pipe is suddenly relieved. ”

“ The volume of water which is used intermittently for the purpose of operating presses—draw-benches for brass and copper tubing and the like is replaced by a pump or pumps which are started and stopped automatically by a connection between the accumulator and the throttle or belt shifter of the pump. The accumulator is used for a double purpose of maintaining a constant pressure and to store up any surplus force of the pumps. The friction loss in the transmission of power by water through mains is very small, as for example: It has been found that water under a pressure of 700 lbs. ”

“ It is a simple matter to arrange floats whereby the pump may be connected to or disconnected from a running engine by means of a friction clutch, so that when the level of the sewage in the pump well reaches the highest point desired the pump may be started, and when it is lowered to a predetermined low water level the pump will stop ”

“ A centrifugal pump will throw more water with less machinery than any other device, but like all other mechanical inventions, it has its limitations. In figuring economical pumping, the minimum quantity should be at least 100 gallons per minute, because time is an object, and irrigation, if done at all, should cover an area sufficient to bring substantial returns. Centrifugal pumps should be placed near the surface of the water in the well. ”

“ The speed at which a pump is operated is a matter of more or less importance, according to its widely varying conditions. In all calculations regarding the capacity of a pump the regularity with which it makes its “stroke” is taken into consideration; the uniformity of the supply of water to a boiler is always a subject of anxiety to the attendant. The capacity of a pump is usually determined by its number of strokes in a given time, hence the need of a pump regulator or governor.
Fig. ”

“ It makes no difference whether the height is due to the depth of the water inside the tank or an additional length of pipe outside.
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The duty of the air pump is solely to get rid of the water and air in the condenser. It adds to the efficiency of the condensing apparatus, and renders its operation continuous; its valve being thrown by the action of its own piston, it must complete its stroke in length whether the piston is moving in air, water or vapor. ”

“ This water engine moves a pump which not only raises to the surface the water which has been used as driving power, but also a vast quantity of water from the shaft, all of which is forced up to the Sutro drain tunnel through what is called a return pipe. Each set of hydraulic pumps has its return pipe ”

“ The water pressure will vary only as the steam pressure varies, always keeping the same per cent. of excess. The results are directly opposite to what would or does occur where feed water is delivered at a stated pressure. On a battery of boilers, during the cleaning of fires, the closing of feed valves on one, two or more boilers, does not affect the feed of those already set in the least, the pump will simply make less strokes necessary to properly feed the others. ”

“ Suction Pumps. A pump is a device for lifting water. The pumps in common use work on the principle that water which is under the pressure of air will rise to fill a vacuum or a partial vacuum. The pump is composed of a combination of valves and a piston for forcing the air out of the pipe to allow the water from below to be forced into it. A valve catches the water as it starts to flow back. ”

“ It utilizes the energy due to the whirling velocity of the water which in most pumps is wasted in eddies in the discharge pipe. In the pump shown guide-blades are also added which have the direction of the stream lines in a free vortex. They do not therefore interfere with the action of the water when pumping the normal quantity, but only prevent irregular motion. At A is a plug by which the pump case is filled before starting. If the pump is above the water to be pumped, a foot valve is required to permit the pump to be filled. ”

“ A vacuum pump is an apparatus consisting of, 1, a chamber or barrel; 2, a suction pipe with a valve to prevent return flow; 3, a discharge pipe which has a valve which is closed when the chamber is emptied and, 4, a steam induction pipe provided with a valve that is opened when the chamber is filled with water and closed when the chamber is filled with steam.
It is not right to call an air pump a vacuum pump, as the latter does not move air alone; it removes water, vapor and air from the condenser to form a vacuum. An air pump is designed to pump air alone. ”

“ As single-acting pumps give an intermittent discharge three are generally used on cranks at 120°. But with all pumps the variation of velocity of discharge would cause great waste of work in the delivery pipes when they are long, and even danger from the hydraulic ramming action of the long column of water. An air vessel is interposed between the pump and the delivery pipes, of a volume from 5 to 100 times the space described by the plunger per stroke. ”

“ The centrifugal pump raises the liquid to be displaced, by means of a rapidly revolving fan having two or more blades straight or curved, fastened upon a shaft and fitting closely into a case having an inlet for water at the end center and an outlet at one side or on top of the case tangent to the circle described by the fan. ”

“ Pitcher Pump. A hand pump which takes its name from the shape of its discharge.
Plug-valve. This is a tapering plug which turns in a shell, example, the plug of a faucet. See Cock. A fire-plug is a street hydrant to which a hose may be attached.
Plumb-bob. This is a device for testing whether anything stands exactly vertical; a plumb-rule contains a plumb-bob.
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Pressure-reducing Valve. A valve for reducing high boiler pressure to low pressure, for steam heating, etc.
Priming. To fill a pump with water when it refuses to lift of its own action, is called “priming the pump.” ”

“ It may also be pointed out that such a pump can be made without openings and spokes in the runner, as by using one or more solid disks, each in its own casing, in which form the machine will be eminently adapted for sewage, dredging and the like, when the water is charged with foreign bodies and spokes or vanes especially objectionable. ”

“ Dirt under the valves is the cause of much pump trouble, as a very small particle of dirt will allow the water to pass in both directions through the valves. Leaking packing will also destroy the vacuum in one end of the cylinder. For the best results the pump should be run slowly but continuously, feeding a small amount of water at one time. This method of feeding allows the feed water heater to bring the water up to the highest possible temperature which reduces the 362fuel consumption and reduces the strains on the boiler. ”

“ Should the pump operator, however, through a mistaken idea of the proper method of operation, think that the priming should be continued until all air was exhausted from the suction pipe and the pump running in normal condition, there would be some by-passing between chambers, but as there is a free vent for the air, the main result would be simply to limit the amount of air exhausted per stroke, from the main suction, by the amount of water which entered a chamber in this way. ”

“ Set safety-valves at 115 lbs., shut all water outlets, admit steam enough to give 100 pounds water pressure, then pump will move very slowly under the influence of the leakage past plungers. About one revolution of pump per minute shows a proper accuracy of fit. Anywhere from 1⁄3 to 2 revolutions per minute is satisfactory.
Too tight a fit is bad, as if not exceedingly uniform it induces scoring or cutting of the metals. Moreover, should the pump happen to be run dry for a few minutes before catching its suction a slight warming and expansion of the plunger may cause it to stick and cut. ”