overall - from catalog card: 12 in x 12 in x 10 in; 30.48 cm x 30.48 cm x 25.4 cm
overall: 10 1/8 in x 11 7/8 in x 11 7/8 in; 25.7175 cm x 30.1625 cm x 30.1625 cm
Object Name:
patent model, pump, mine operating
Place made:
United States: California, San Francisco
Associated place:
United States: California, San Francisco
Date made:
1879
Patent date:
1879-12-09
Description:
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 222,418 issued to Joseph Moore and George W. Dickie of San Francisco, California on December 9, 1879. The patent was for improvements in hydraulic pumps for operations in mines.
The Moore and Dickie concept was based on using a central power plant and pump to distribute water under high pressure to several hydraulic pumps that service multiple mines. A steam engine was used to power a water pump that drew water from a water tank and pumped it into a hydraulic pressure accumulator. The inventors noted that the pump could be powered by a water wheel if available. Pipes led from the accumulator to each mine where a hydraulic ram would lift the vertical rod of the mine’s pump. Provisions were made for the water from the ram to be returned to the central tank for reuse.
The amount of pressure in the system was regulated by adjusting the amount of weight on top of the accumulator ram. Additionally, each mine pump had a local valve that allowed adjustment of pressure to suit the pumping demand of that mine. The inventors suggested having multiple engines available for redundancy and noted the ease with which hydraulic power could be rerouted and managed in the event of an emergency.
Mr. Moore and Mr. Dickie were involved in the business of mining machinery for the gold and silver mines in California and Nevada. They were associated with the Risdon Iron Works of San Francisco where Mr. Moore was Vice President and General Superintendent. In 1877 they jointly authored a detailed book on pumping and hoisting water from such mines.
The model as shown in the image illustrates all of the key elements of the patent. It is constructed of painted tin. It represents a notional layout of the pumping machinery on a hill containing multiple mine shafts. Diagrams showing the complete design can be found in the patent document online (www.USPTO.gov).
