Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/724

 582 The Architectural Review and American Banders' Journal. [Mar., " Ripka Mills," Manayunk, the exten- sive establishment owned and carried on by Messrs. R. Patterson & Co. Under the guidance, and intelligent explana- tions, of Mr. Follensbee, Superintendent of Repairs, (the very man we should wish to have in that position, were we the fortunate proprietors,) we inspected some of the new machinery and im- provements now introduced. Our at- tention was specially called to the " Sutherland Steam Pump" emplo}-ed to feed the steam boilers with water, by forcing it in, against the head of steam. To those acquainted with the numerous inventions in this direction, of which, perhaps, the best known, and most ex- tensively used, is the " Worthington Pump," improvement may seem hope- less, and any claim to have accomplished it, presumptuous. One needs, however, in order to be convinced, only to see that little No. 2 — next to the smallest size — working steadily, and noiselessly supplying the four large boilers — and able, as Mr. Follensbee assured us, to supply four more — obedient to the touch of the engineer's finger, and making its ten or twenty strokes per minute, or two hundred, as required. The observer wonders how^"the valve on the upper side of the stearn-cylinder is moved. He sees no familiar upright arm, fixed upon the piston-rod half way between the steam and water cylinders, and carried, sliding alon^ the valve-rod, back and forth with the piston. He hears no click ! clack ! as it hits the tappet, or nut, making, at high speed, a perfect clatter ; and he is told, that here was just the opportunity for improvement. Steam alone, acting directly, is made to do the work, without the aid of tappet- arms, eccentrics, or any of the compli- cated contrivances, heretofore consid- ered essential ; which quickly wear out, and render a pump useless, causing trouble and expense. The main valve is operated by steam, let on by second- ary valves, which, themselves, are oper- ated by the main piston— being lifted alternately, as it approaches the end of its stroke — and thus allowing steam to pass into the valve-chest, move the main valve, and reverse the motion of the piston. The small valves are very nearly balanced, by the pressure above and below; just sufficient difference being allowed, between the diameter of the stem, and the diameter of the valve, to make the pressure on the top of the valve slightly gi-eater than that below, so as to keep the valve on its seat, till, started by the movement of the piston, the current of steam immediately car- ries it up ; so that there is no wear, between the hardened surface of the piston, and the end of the valve-stem. These cunning little valves, too, admit live steam, upon one end of the main valve, and, at the same instant, exhaust from the other end, thus insuring posi- tive, true and certain motion. One im- portant feature of the steam -A'alve is, that it compensates for its own wear ; and having its main exhaust-port always open, all trouble from leakage is ob- viated. These points we learned from our obliging conductor, and from an article in the " Scientific American," shown to us. The advantages claimed for this Steam-Pump are numerous and make quite an array, when summed up. Per- fect surety of operation 5 always start- ing readily ; no dead points ; great dura- bility ; extreme compactness ; from twenty to fifty per cent, heavier than other steam-pumps ; no expensive skill required to operate it ; small number of parts ; pumps water — at all temperatures, even to boiling — and all other liquids, for which steam-pumps are used; has great power, steadiness of motion, and ve- locity combined with freedom from all unnecessary friction. It is especially effective, as a station- ary Fire-Pump. Mr. Fritz, the accom- plished Superintendent of the Bethlehem Iron Works, has, we understand, taken a No. 7, for this special use. Other first- class engineers in the Yallev of the