Pulsometer steam pump

The Pulsometer steam pump is a pistonless pump which was invented in 1872 ^[1] by American Thomas Hall. In 1875 a British Engineer bought the patent rights of the Pulsometer ^[2] and it was introduced to the market soon thereafter. The invention may have been inspired by the Savery steam pump invented by Thomas Savery. Around the turn of the century, it was a popular and efficient pump for quarry pumping.

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This extremely simple pump was made of cast iron, and had no pistons, rods, cylinders, cranks, or flywheels. It operated by the direct action of steam on water. The mechanism consisted of two chambers. As the steam condensed in one chamber, it acted as a suction pump, while in the other chamber, steam was introduced under pressure and so it acted as a force pump. At the end of every stroke, a ball valve consisting of a small rubber ball moved slightly, causing the two chambers to swap functions from suction-pump to force-pump and vice versa. The result was that the water was first suction pumped and then force pumped. ^[3]

The pump ran automatically without attendance. It was praised for its "extreme simplicity of construction, operation, compact form, high efficiency, economy, durability, and adaptability". Later designs were improved upon to enhance efficiency and to make the machine more accessible for inspection and repairs, thus reducing maintenance costs. ^[4]

References

1. ^ Pumps - History Resources. ASME.
2. ^ SPP Pumps Timeline. SPP Pumps.
3. ^ Tools and Machinery of the Granite Industry, Part II. Find Articles.
4. ^ The Manufacturer and Builder, January 1882. Cornell University.