1862 London Exhibition: Catalogue: Class VIII.: Harvey and Co
1880. HARVEY and CO., Hayle, Cornwall.
Models of pumping engine for London water companies and of a safety-balance valve.
The accompanying engraving represents a SINGLE-ACTING CONDENSING ENGINE, on the Cornish principle, erected by Harvey and Co. engineers and founders, Hayle, Cornwall, and 12 Haymarket, London, for the East London Waterworks Company, at Lea Bridge. The cylinder is 100 in. diameter, and working stroke 11 ft. The pump is a plunger, 50 in. diameter, and 11 ft. stroke.
This engine, when working full power, pumps about 9,060 gallons of water per minute, usually 140 ft. high, which water is conveyed into London by cast-iron pipes 36 in. diameter. The model exhibited by the above firm closely approximates to this engine. At the time of its erection in 1855, this was the largest machine for supplying water to towns ever constructed.
In 1858, Harvey and Co. erected for the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company at Battersea, a pumping engine, the cylinder of which is 112 in. diameter, weighing with its case 36 tons.
This engine, although the largest and most powerful ever built for such purposes, is of the most simple construction; the steam valves are all on the equilibrium principle, and the arrangement of parts is such, that this colossal engine is as completely under control as those of the smallest size, and performs an enormous amount of work, without the slightest shock or noise.
The total quantity of water pumped for the supply of London daily amounts to 115,000,000 gallons. Of this large amount 79,000,000 of gallons are pumped by the single-acting engine, and considering that Harvey and Co. have erected nearly all the machinery for pumping the latter amount, and about 25 years ago first introduced into London this machine, of which the above-mentioned engines are examples, that firm has thought it advisable to exhibit a working model of a pumping engine, supplied with Harvey and West's valves, and complete in every respect. The pump of this model with the valve boxes are partially constructed of glass, thus allowing the action of the valves to be observed.
Like all great improvements, this class of engine has met with much opposition. Gradually but surely, however, it is superseding all others for supplying towns with water, and for all drainage purposes, and as now improved, it stands unrivalled for economy and durability. This is sufficiently proved by its adoption by the Southwark and Vauxhall, the Kent, the West Middlesex, the Grand Junction, and the East London Water Companies. The above companies now use this engine exclusively, and effect by so doing a very large saving of fuel. Some of these companies have worked their engines without intermission for twenty years, without requiring to stop for repairs.
The single-acting engine having been employed with such entire success for pumping water into London, it appears surprising that the same plan of engine is not to be employed for pumping the water out again in the form of sewage. An experiment is to be tried at Deptford with rotative engines, for pumping the sewage up from the low level sewers, thus going back to the plans adopted in London before the introduction of the single-acting engine, regardless of the experience of the most eminent water-works engineers in London. It is very desirable however, considering the immense interests at stake, that this question should be thoroughly investigated, before a farther outlay be decided on. For as the cost of working steam engines, and maintaining them in repair is a daily charge, a step in the wrong direction would entail enormous loss on the City of London, and the evil would be irremediable.
Harvey and Co. have had great experience in the manufacture of machinery for stamping and crushing ores. The space allotted however does not admit the introduction of models. This business has of late years become of great importance since the gold discoveries in Australia and California, and as future success in those countries, must depend on mining, suitable machinery for crushing and stamping, will daily become of greater importance.
The above firm have constructed pumping machinery expressly adapted for draining gold workings in Australia or other distant countries. Wrought-iron is substituted for cast-iron wherever practicable, thus at once decreasing cost of transport by reducing the weight; and diminishing the risk of breakage to a minimum. This is even of more importance for the pumps than for the engine, as the weight of lifts is thereby so much lessened that the labour of fixing is reduced by about one-half.
The model exhibited is a type of these machines for draining mines, and by it the method of working may be readily understood even by those not intimately acquainted with the subject.
MODEL OF A SAFETY-BALANCE VALVE.
This is a model of a SAFETY-BALANCE VALVE, patented by W. Husband, and made by Harvey and Co. for pumping engines. It is fixed in and forms part of the main pipes for conveying the water; by its action an engine always retains its load in case the main should burst. It performs the office of a stand pipe, and dispenses with this costly structure.