A LARGE PUMP.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1029, 13 April 1894, Page 3

A LARGE PUMP.

Messrs R. S. Sparrow and Co Dunedin have just manufactured what is undoubtedly the largest pump ever made in the Colony. The work was done at the instance of the Castle Hill Coai Mining Company, Kaitangata, and in accordance with the specifications and drawings of Mr Eel ward Roberts, the company's consulting engineer. The pump, while on view at Messrs Sparrow's yards, was inspected by a large number of gentlemen interested in matters of this kind, amongst them being Messrs Morrison and Duncan (Government inspectors of machinery), Mr John Gow (Government inspector of mines), Mr E. S. Baldwin (of Wellington), the manager of the Castle Hill Company, the manager of the Shag Point Company, and N. Y. A, Wales. The pump, as a piece of machinery, is a credit to the firm that turned ifc out, and is another proof of what our local engineers and iron founders can accomplish. The work it will have to do will be to lift 2000 gal per hour at a moderate speed from the bottom of an inclined plane or drive 2250 ft in length, equivalent to a vertical height of 500 ft, but should it be required in an emergency ifc could lift 30,000 gal per hour, The bed plate of the pump is composed of two massive castings of the box form strongly ribbed, and the longitudinal joint accurately planed and fitted together and bolted, the finished size of bed plate being 12ft 6in x Gft lOin x 12in deep. D pon the bed plate are mounted four heavy pillow blocks, fitted with gun metal bearings, carrying a triple throw crank shaft. The shaft is of the built type, forged from the best selected scrap iron, the diameters of pins and bearings 6-|in, and is in itself a very fine piece of work. The thiee plunger cases are bolted to the bed plate, and further secured with keys, stuffing boxes and glands, bushed with gun metal. The cast iron plungers are lOin diameter, having a stroke of 20in and are attached to cross heads, provided with slipper's, working in planed guide channels in the bed plate. The motion is transmitted from the crank shaft to plungers by connecting rods of wrought iron, the ends of which are fitted with gun metal bushes, wrought iron straps, gibs, and cotters. The valve chambers are massive castings, fitted wifch gun metal valves and seats, water cushioned, and the valves are all easily accessible by , means of doors to each. At one end of the crank shaft a large surging drum, 7ft 6in diameter, is mounted, also a clutch provided to throw out of gear. The pump will be driven from the engines at the surface by means of wire rope transmission. The total weight amounts to 16-| tons. It may be mentioned that a pump of similar though smaller design has been in operation for the last eight months in the Castle Hill mine.