SINKING PUMPS.

These special mining pumps are used to drain water from the shaft bottom, so that work in deepening or repairing may be carried on. As shown in the illustration they are made to be suspended by a chain or bail attached to eye-bolts in the upper cylinder head at points of support which will enable the pump to hang vertically and be raised and lowered at will.

Fig. 439.

The bail is so constructed that while the pump is suspended the cylinder head can, if necessary on the smaller sizes, be removed and the steam piston examined and adjusted. As the shaft gets deeper the chain may be lengthened out and an extra joint placed on the end of the delivery pipe.

The sinking pump is subjected to the hardest usage of any, hence any steam pump that is to be used in sinking a mine shaft must be strong, certain in operation, capable of handling gritty water and require little attention.

Fig. [438] exhibits a hand-power mining pump, designed especially for prospecting, etc., and made by the Edson Manufacturing Co., Boston, Mass. It is listed for three sizes:

No. 6, capacity 1200 gallons per hour, 1 man.

No. 8, capacity 4000 gallons per hour, 2 men.

No. 10, capacity 6000 gallons per hour, 2 men.

The outfit which usually goes with this diaphragm lift and force pump includes special suction and conducting hose, brass coupling and strainer; these pumps will raise and force water containing gravel, sand, dirt or tailings without choking.

The Deane single vertical sinking pump is shown in Fig. [439]; a table of dimensions and capacities of this pump is also given below.

The pump illustrated is double acting and of the differential plunger type; the water end is in three parts and consists of a water cylinder, a lower plunger and an upper plunger. The water passes directly up and through the plungers, both of which are hollow. These plungers are outside packed. The water valves are reached by hand holes provided for that purpose. Split pins are used in the ends of the bolts to prevent the nuts from working off.

These pumps are designed to stand a working pressure of 150 lbs. to the square inch. They have the regular Deane valve motion and will work under water.

Table.

Size.Capacity.
Diameter
of Steam
Cylinder.		Diameter
of Large
Plunger.		Diameter
of Small
Plunger.		Length
of
Stroke.		Gallons
per
Stroke.		Strokes
per
Minute.		Gallons
per
Minute.
8 53⁄4 416 .8775 65
10 53⁄4 416 .8775 65
8 7 5161.3575101
10 7 5161.3575101
12 7 5161.3575101
12111⁄2 8163.4875261
14111⁄2 8163.4875261
16111⁄2 8163.4875261
18111⁄2 8163.4875261
16141⁄410248.1650408
18141⁄410248.1650408
20141⁄410248.1650408
24141⁄410248.1650408
Size.Pipe Sizes.
Diameter
of Steam
Cylinder.		Diameter
of Large
Plunger.		Diameter
of Small
Plunger.		Length
of
Stroke.		Steam.Exhaust.Suction.Discharge.
8 53⁄4 416111⁄2 42
10 53⁄4 41611⁄22 42
8 7 516111⁄2 53
10 7 51611⁄22 53
12 7 516221⁄2 53
12111⁄2 816221⁄2 84
14111⁄2 816221⁄2 84
16111⁄2 816221⁄2 84
18111⁄2 816221⁄2 84
16141⁄41024221⁄2106
18141⁄41024331⁄2106
20141⁄41024331⁄2106
24141⁄41024441⁄2106
Size.Approximate
Dimensions
in Inches.
Diameter
of Steam
Cylinder.		Diameter
of Large
Plunger.		Diameter
of Small
Plunger.		Length
of
Stroke.		Length.Space
Occupied.
8 53⁄4 41611125 × 23
10 53⁄4 41611227 × 24
8 7 51611126 × 24
10 7 51611229 × 24
12 7 51611231 × 24
12111⁄2 81613240 × 32
14111⁄2 81613240 × 32
16111⁄2 81613643 × 32
18111⁄2 81613644 × 32
16141⁄4102417650 × 38
18141⁄4102417850 × 38
20141⁄4102417852 × 38
24141⁄4102418054 × 38

This table refers to Fig. [439].

Fig. 440.

Fig. 441.

The Cameron vertical plunger sinking pump is shown in Figs. [440] and [441].

Fig. 442.

Fig. 443.

This is one of the most successful mine sinking pumps designed; there are no parts exposed to rust, and instances have occurred when this pump has started off and cleared a shaft of water when the pump itself had been buried for weeks under a mass of fallen rock and debris.

This pump has no outside valve gear, arms or levers; all movable parts are inside and enclosed, to prevent collision with the walls of the mine shaft nor is it likely to receive injury from blast explosions. Being fitted with special exhaust cut-off, it will continue to run as fast as steam will drive it (with an irregular or intermittent supply of water, or when the water fails entirely,) not only without danger of the piston striking the heads, but without injury to the valves. It is designed and intended to handle gritty water.

Telescopic pipe joint shown in Figs. [442] and [443], supplies a convenient means for lifting and lowering a sinking pump, and is usually made in lengths of sixteen feet. This enables the operator to drop the pump that distance without disturbing the rest of the pipe; by its use irregular lengths of pipe can be added, whereas, otherwise when the pump is lowered the pipe would have to be cut of equal length.

The inside pipe is brass tubing which freely slips through the packing and is non-corrosive.

Fig. [441] exhibits the sinking pump in practical operation; it is the same as that shown on the previous page.

Note.—Mining pumps require to be made “to gauge” and interchangeable; an advantage which commends itself to experienced mining engineers. Many “parts” should be provided in duplicate on account of the rough usage and hard service alluded to above.

The “Scranton” pattern of a mining pump is illustrated by the cuts shown below (Figs. [444] and [445]).

Fig. 444.

Fig. 445.

The plungers of this machine work through middle, exterior stuffing-boxes, into four separate and distinct water cylinders. The valve areas and water ways are unusually large in proportion to the displacement of the plunger, so that the velocity and consequent destructive action of the water currents is decreased in passing through the pump.

These pumps are designed to withstand safely a working pressure of 250 pounds to the square inch, and all their attachments are especially strengthened with a view to meeting the rough usage and hard work to which they are liable to be subjected in mining operations.

Fig. 446.

Table.

Diameter
of
Steam
Cylinders		Diameter
of
Water
Plunger		Length
of
Stroke		Gallons
Per
Revolution		Revolutions
per Minute		Gallons
per
Minute
14 81⁄210 9.5654 516
16 81⁄210 9.5654 516
181⁄2 81⁄210 9.5654 516
16101⁄41013.9554 753
181⁄2101⁄41013.9554 753
181⁄2121019.16541035
20121019.16541035
17 81⁄21514.1440 565
20 81⁄21514.1440 565
17101⁄41520.8340 833
20101⁄41520.8340 833
20121528.78401151
Diameter
of
Steam
Cylinders		Diameter
of
Water
Plunger		Length
of
Stroke		Sizes of pipes for
Short Lengths
To be increased as
length increases
Steam
Pipe		Exhaust
Pipe		Suction
Pipe		Delivery
Pipe
14 81⁄21021⁄23 8 6
16 81⁄21021⁄23 8 6
181⁄2 81⁄210331⁄2 8 6
16101⁄41021⁄2310 8
181⁄2101⁄410331⁄210 8
181⁄21210431⁄21210
20121021⁄251210
17 81⁄215431⁄2 8 6
20 81⁄21521⁄25 8 6
17101⁄415431⁄210 8
20101⁄4154510 8
201215551210
Diameter
of
Steam
Cylinders		Diameter
of
Water
Plunger		Length
of
Stroke		Approximate
Space
Occupied
Feet and Inches
LengthWidth
14 81⁄210 9 8 3 2
16 81⁄210 9 9 3 10
181⁄2 81⁄210 9 10 4 0
16101⁄410 10 9 3 10
181⁄2101⁄410 10 9 4 0
181⁄21210 11 1 4 0
201210 11 2 4 2
17 81⁄215 10 5 3 11
20 81⁄215 10 6 4 2
17101⁄415 11 6 3 11
20101⁄415 11 8 4 11⁄2
201215 11 9 4 3

The Worthington Pressure Pump. This pump, presented in Fig. [446], is specially designed for use in connection with hydraulic lifts and cranes, cotton presses, testing machines, hydraulic riveting and punching machines and hydraulic presses of all kinds. Also, for oil-pipe lines, mining purposes and services requiring the delivery of liquids under heavy pressures.

There are four, single-acting, outside-packed plungers, which work through the ends of the water cylinders, the latter having central partitions. The arrangement of compound steam cylinders shown in Fig. [445], or a triple expansion arrangement, can be applied to these pumps where a saving of fuel is desired. The water valves are easily accessible and are contained in small independent chambers, capable of resisting very heavy pressure.