Bobweight connection to pumprods

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plodger
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

Thanks to all who replied to my question about the use of charcoal in engine boilers. I'm producing drawings of the mine I'm researching but I can't find any pictures, plans or clear photos of the method by which the arm from the bobweight box bore against the vertical pump rod. Since the arm would move through an arc and the pump rod moved vertically I imagine that perhaps a metal extension of the arm projected through a slot in the rod. Or maybe a fork at the end of the arm bore against a horizontal bar through the rod? These are just guesses - can anyone describe the usual practice for this bit of mechanical movement?

Ian H.

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simonrail
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

I think the bobweight was often connected to the pumprods by a lengthy vertical rod. From the end of the bobweight it hung vertically down several feet to a fixing point on the pumprods, presumably both fixing points having bearings to allow movement.

Yes, I'll have it - what is it?

ICLOK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

There was a pivoted bracket attached to the main pump rod, a rod ran from that up to the end of the balance bob nose... pics below...
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-36063[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-36063[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-36064[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-36064[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-36065[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-36065[/linkphoto][/link]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!

ICLOK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

The design of the linking rod or strap varies in design from timber with Iron fittings on each end to metal bar types but the principle is usually the same that the end onto the main pump rod is pin pivot arrangement and the top end is as shown in the pics. Having gone thru a few more books there are several different top ends I found but the type illustrated below seems commonest.
Connection to Balance bob would be something like this-
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-36066[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-36066[/linkphoto][/link]

EDIT Fag Packet sketch for you- the rod from the balance bob nose to the bracket on the pump rod would be kept as parallel as possible according to a note I just found in a book.. so my drawing abit out ... but you get the idea!
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-36067[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-36067[/linkphoto][/link]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!

spitfire
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

The connection from balance box to pump rod was in Cornish practice a piece of flexible iron with no bearings these were known as sword pieces
The balance bob could be situated either side of the rod or in front. The same practice would also apply to tie back, fend off, or angle bobs.

spitfire

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

If these are of any interest, they are from Michell and Letcher 1876

🔗Personal-Album-128-Image-36081[linkphoto]Personal-Album-128-Image-36081[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Personal-Album-128-Image-36080[linkphoto]Personal-Album-128-Image-36080[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Personal-Album-128-Image-36079[linkphoto]Personal-Album-128-Image-36079[/linkphoto][/link]

My avatar is a poor likeness.

ICLOK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Thats the sketch I was looking for... I have it on a photocopy but just could not find it!!
The arrangement at Cwm Ciprwth mine is the business though its a pumping arrgt as against purely a balance bob, its got so many great features.!
🔗Cwm-Ciprwth-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-003[linkphoto]Cwm-Ciprwth-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-003[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Cwm-Ciprwth-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-002[linkphoto]Cwm-Ciprwth-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-002[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-36082[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-36082[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-36083[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-36083[/linkphoto][/link]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!

simonrail
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

The repair job at Cwm Ciprwth is a great improvement on how the equipment looked just a few years ago. When in use there would have been quite a weight on the horizontal rods keeping them in tension but unfortunately that hasn't been replaced which is why they are now sagging rather alot.

Note that this waterwheel both pumped and wound, the winding drum being operated through a clutch so could be used when needed whilst the waterwheel could turn and pump continuously.

Yes, I'll have it - what is it?

spitfire
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

The sketch that RF put up and the photo' of Cwm Ciprwth have nothing to do with how a balance box was connected to a pump rod on a beam engine.
In both of these illustrations it is a angle bob with a balance box driven via flat rods to a king post, the pump rod is then connected to a bearing on the nose of the angle bob which imitates the bob nose of a beam engine.
As stated before a balance box is always at 90deg to the rod on a beam engine

spitfire

plodger
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#10

Wow - thanks for all of that info. - I'm just amazed at the interest and knowledge displayed by members of this group. By being very careful (and scared) I can get a view down the shaft of the pupmrod remains but it disappears underwater after about twenty feet. Many thanks.

Ian H.

ICLOK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#11

Send us a pic and I bet we can tell you more... pm it its confidential? 😉

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!

lozz
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#12

"ICLOK" wrote:
There was a pivoted bracket attached to the main pump rod, a rod ran from that up to the end of the balance bob nose... pics below...
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-36063[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-36063[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-36064[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-36064[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-36065[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-36065[/linkphoto][/link]

I have only just come across this post, the visual description you give seems to match a written description I have found for the man engine at Fowey Consols which apparently was the first mine in Cornwall to install the single rod man engine, from all accounts it extended to the 280 fm level in a vertical shaft, being operated by a water wheel which was also attatched to a 14 ton flywheel which was geared up from the wheel, the crank on the waterwheel would appear to have been attached to a single 3" wrought iron rod which attatched to the top of the kingpost, the shaft end of the bob being connected to the man engine rod by a wrought iron rod of the same dimension as that just mentioned, the man engine rod being set in guides.

Lozz.