(February, 1852)
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A manually-operated hydraulic rams was invented by John Whitehurst in 1772. French balloonist Joseph-Michel Montgolfier developed a self-acting device to pump water, for which his friend Matthew Boulton was awarded British Patent 2207 on his behalf on December 30th, 1797 for an "Apparatus for raising water and other fluids." The first known use of this device was in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire aqueduct in late 1798, which called it a "Perpetual Pump," which could lift "a barrel of water every minute" and received wide notice in newspapers. This pump is not mentioned after 1799 and was apparently the only hydraulic ram used on a public water supply system until 1850, when a pump was reportedly installed to supply "20,000 gallons of water a day" to the town of Naples, New York. The town of Media, Pennsylvania installed a ram in 1854, and Aurora, Illinois had several rams by 1859.
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| Portsmouth Oracle of the Day, December 22, 1798, Page 3. | Pennsylvania
Farm Journal 1(11):352 (February, 1852) |
Another hydraulic ram was installed by William Dryden for the Los Angeles Water Works Company in 1861 to pump water into a reservoir, but Dryden also installed a water wheel it remains unclear how these two devices interacted.
Several hydraulic rams were installed in small water works systems in the 1890s.
References
1775 "Account of a Machine
for Raising Water, Executed at Oulton, in Cheshire, in 1772. In a Letter
from Mr. John Whitehurst to Dr. Franklin," by John Whitehurst, Philosophical
Transactions 65:277-279 (1775)
1797 Brevet d'invention de 15 ans pris le 13 brumaire An VI (3 Nov. 1797) par Montgoifier et Argand; brevet de perfectionnement et d'addition delivre le 7 prairial an VI (6 May 1798). [These were not published, see 1936 article below]
1797 Specification of the Patent granted to Matthew Boulton, of Soho, in the County of Stafford, Esquire; for his Invention of improved Apparatus and Methods for raising Water, and other Fluids, December 13, 1797. | pdf with plates |
1798 "From
Robert Fulton to Edmund Cartwright, February 16, 1798," published in
A Memoir of the Life, Writings, and Mechanical Inventions of Edmund
Cartwright, by Mary Strickland and Jane Margaret Strickland (1843)
Page 145: The celebrated Montgolfier has just made a great discovery
in hydraulics; it is a means of raising water from the beds of rivers by
the simple movement of the stream, without either pump or wheel. I
know him well, and have seen his model frequently at work. It is
forty feet high, and consisting of only two tubes, extremely simple.
1798 Pour
une machine nommée belier hydraulique, dont l'effect est
d'élever les eaux des rivières au moyen des leur pente naturelle, sans
roures, ni pompes, ni autres machines proprement dites, Aux sieurs
Montgolfier frères
et Ami Argand, 26 Mai 1798, from Description des machines et
procédés spécifiés dans les brevets d'invention, de perfectionnement et
d'importation, Tome Quatrième (1820) Pages 245-266. | pdf
including plates |
[Partial translation of patent from 1936 article, cited below] "About a
year ago, reflecting upon certain natural phenomena, the cause of which
did not seem to us to have been explained satisfactorily, such as the
greater rise of the tides on certain coasts than upon others; the
projection of the water of a jet above the level of the basin whence it
originates at the moment when the jet is turned on, and the projection of
the waves of the sea against a rock when they meet a more or less inclined
surface etc., we recognized that the true cause of it was the movement
acquired, and the hammer blow produced, by the arrest more or less
sudden, of this movement. It is this effort that we designate in the
memoir under the name 'coup de bélier'; and we call the column of water
shut within the pipe 'bélier Hydraulique.' ... "
"The trial that we have made of the ram, although imperfectly executed,
has completely answered to theory, and it is with the greatest
satisfaction that we have seen it succeed, and we have felt that the
construction, full size, presents proportionately more advantages and much
less imperfections, such as friction, leakage through the valves, etc."
1798 Joshua Gilpin to
Matthew Boulton, September 3, 1798 [from 1936 reference below]
"I now take the liberty for myself to ask whether yourself or Mr. Watt
have made any models or real Machines of the Invention you have lately
patented for Argannd & Montgolfier for raising water, as I should be
happy to see it, or to procure a model executed with your improvements to
take to America for my own and Mr Fulton's use; as we were both present at
the experiments in Paris made by Montgolfier & Argannd & Mr.
Fulton has purchased of them the patent right for America & I am sure
would be glad to receive a model of it thro' me as he goes direct to
America."
1798 "The Perpetual
Pump," Portsmouth Oracle of the Day, December 22, 1798, Page 3.
The Directors of the Aqueduct, have put down a pump, nearly opposite Col.
Gain's, which has the faculty of working itself, by day and by night; at
all times and in all seasons. No cold has hitherto checked a
continual flow of pure water, and no heat will retard its perpetual
course, unless the original fountain should be exhausted. It
discharges about a barrel of water every minute; supplies families; waters
ships, and very probably would save the town from desolation, in case of
fire, provided every other stream was dry.
1799 "Aqueduct," Portsmouth
Oracle of the Day, May 18, 1799, Page 3.
The Directors of the Aqueduct have broke ground for the season, and are
going on to finish the intended work. – Our perpetual pump, a few weeks
since, ceased to emit water; – the fault was soon discovered, and easily
remedied – It now yields the copious stream, as usual.
1804 To
James Madison from James Monroe, 10 August 1804
I recd. in Paris, an example of the Hydraulique belier a machine for
carrying water to any height above the reservoir, of Peter Whitesides,*
for the President, which I ought to have forwarded to him immediately on
my arrival here. I shall commit it to Mr. Pinkney. Mr. Whitesides wants to
obtain a patent for it, and I hope if permitted by Law, that the delay
will not deprive him of the right. I think he gave me a paper explanatory
of its powers; I cannot now find it, but will send it hereafter if I have
one. He had sent one to me at Richmond with such an exply. paper, wh. may
I presume be had, as the instrument may, if this shod. prove defective.
*British-born Philadelphia merchant Peter Whiteside (1752–1828) made a
fortune as a contractor and supplier of the Continental army during the
American Revolution. After moving to France in the early 1790s, he
performed much the same function for the revolutionary government in
Paris. No patent for Whiteside’s hydraulic ram has been found.
1805 From
Thomas Jefferson to J. Phillipe Reibelt, 19 October 1805
There has been a mistake between M. Le Poype & yourself as to a letter
from me to the National institute.
1805 Morning
Chronicle (New York, New York), November 16, 1805, Page 3.
This is the approbation given by Mr. Jefferson to the invention of the
Hydraulic Ram, which was offered by Mr. Lapaype, to the inhabitants of
Richmond, for the utility and ornament of that city; and of which he has
made also some experiments at this house at Monticello. Balt.
Amer.
"I hereby certify, that I attended an experiment made with the Hydraulic
Ram of Mr. Lapoyde, that with a descending tube of 1 inch diameter and 4
feet long, it through from 1/2 to 1/16 of the water 22 feet above the
reservoir - and am satisfied, had it not been for the leaking pipes
affixed to it, it would have thrown the water much higher. I am well
satisfied of the effect of the machine, and pleased with the simplicity of
its construction, that I have had one made for myself to be placed under
the cove of the house, to catch the rain water from them, and throw up a
sufficient porition of it into the cistern on the top of the house as a
resource in case of fire. "Given my hand at Monticello, the 27th of
Sept, 1805. Thomas Jefferson
1805 "LaPoype's Hydraulic Ram," by Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Argus, November 16, 1805, Page 3. Thanks to Drew Laing for providing the link to the newspaper.
1805 From
Thomas Jefferson to James Oldham, 16 November 1805
Mr Poype having obtained from mr Montgolfier the inventor of the Hydraulic
ram permission to use his patent right to the advantage of mr Poype who
has need of it, I do not think myself at liberty to make any communication
of it’s construction to his prejudice. on the same ground I have not put
to use yet the one he permitted me to have made from his model. I
understood there would be a subscription in Richmond for employing mr
Poype in the setting up a number of them, which will give to the city the
benefit of the construction.
1809 US Patent, Improvements in the hydraulic ram, August 3, 1809, Stephen S. Hallet and Joseph Cerneau (or Curneau),
1809 To
James Madison from Stephen S. Hallet, 9 September 1809
I beg leave to propose to your Excelency what I think an Improvement to
the President’s House.
It is Montgolfier’s hydraulic ram improved, for which I have lately with a
partener, obtained a patent of the United States.
Dr. Wm. Thornton examined it Very Carefully, witnessed Some trials and was
So kind as to take an active part in the Experiment we have exhibited in
the City.
As I could not wish to meet with a better Judge of the matter I beg leave
to refer your Excelency to that Gentleman’s explanations as to the merits
of the machine; and to Capt Hobben as to the practicability and Utility of
its aplication to the President’s House. Your Excelency’s Most humble And
Obedient Servant
Stephen S. Hallet
1810 Robert
Fulton to Thomas Jefferson, 24 February 1810
I have long since made the drawings for your Belier hydraulic but I wished
to do more than make a drawing, I wished to send you a working model but
together with procrastinating workmen and my own moving from place to
place I have not yet been able to accomplish it. If your men can work from
the drawing I will forward it from New york.
1810 Thomas
Jefferson to Robert Fulton, 17 March 1810
I am thankful to you for the trouble you have taken in thinking of the
belier hydraulique. to be put into motion by the same power which was to
continue it’s motion was certainly wanting to that machine, as a better
name still is. I would not give you the trouble of having a model made, as
I have workmen who can execute from the drawing. I pray you to accept the
assurances of my great esteem & respect.
1810 Robert
Fulton to Thomas Jefferson, 28 March 1810
I send you a sketch of a self acting Bélier Hydraulic it will be necessary
to make it with care in measurements and spaces which each part is to pass
through; I have no doubt you will succeed in the execution but should you
fail you will then permit me to make you a model for the honor of
progressing arts, and to establish the utility of my combination;
1810 Enclosure: Robert Fulton’s Drawing and Description of a Self-Acting Hydraulic Ram, [ca. 28 March] 1810
1810 Thomas
Jefferson to Robert Fulton, 16 April 1810
I recieved yesterday on my return from a journey your favor of Mar. 28.
and have to thank you for the drawing of your self-moving belier
hydraulique, which a first reading shews to be simple & ingenious,
& I have no doubt will answer. it shall have my early attention.
1815 Thomas
Jefferson to William Thornton, 9 February 1815
I have to thank you for the drawing of the beautiful hydraulic machine
with which you favored me in yours of Jan. 11. in simplicity and effect it
promises to go far beyond Montgolfier’s hydraulic ram.
1819 "Description of Montgolfier's Hydraulic Ram," by E. C. Genet, Transactions of the Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts, in New York 4(2):143-149
1842 A
Descriptive and Historical Account of Hydraulic and Other Machines for
Raising Water, Ancient and Modern: With Observations on Various
Subjects Connected with the Mechanic Arts: Including the Progressive
Development of the Steam Engine ... In Five Books. Illustrated by
Nearly Three Hundred Engravings, by Thomas Ewbank.
Revised and reprinted several times | Fourteenth
Edition, 1858 | Sixteenth
Edition, with additional matter, 1876 |
Pages 365-373: Machines for Raising Water
1844 "Raising Water," by John H.B. Latrobe, New York Farmer and Mechanic 2(13):201-202 (October, 1844)
1846 "Montgolfier's Hydraulic Ram," built by Henry P.M. Birkinbine, The Farmers' Cabinet 10(11):358 (June 15, 1846) Illustrated Advertisement
1847 "Notes on the Hydraulic Ram," Journal of the Franklin Institute 55(2):133-136 (February, 1847)
1847 "Hydraulic Ram," by Henry P.M. Birkinbine, The Farmer's Cabinet 11(9):282-283 (April 15, 1847)
1850 "Report on H.P.M. Birkinbine's Hydraulic Ram," by William Hamilton, May 9, 1850, Journal of the Franklin Institute 50(5):353-356 (November, 1850)
1852 "Hydraulic Ram Advertisement," Pennsylvania Farm Journal 1(11):352 (February, 1852)
1852 "Hydraulic Rams," Scientific American 8(2):13 (September 25, 1852)
1852 "Hydraulic Rams," Scientific American 8(7):53 (October 30, 1852) Communication from J.D. Rice questioning accuracy of September 25th article.
1852 "The Hydraulic Ram," Scientific American 8(13):97-98 (December 11, 1852) Illustrated
1853 "Hydraulic Rams," Scientific American 8(17):130 (January 8, 1853) Response to J.D. Rice letter
1853 "Report on J.L. Gatchell's Hydraulic Ram," by Wm Hamilton, May 23, 1853, Journal of the Franklin Institute 55(6):428-429 (June, 1853)
1854 US Patent 10,969, Hydraulic Ram, by Joseph C. Strode, West Chester, New York, May 23, 1854.
1854 US Patent 11,621, Puppet-Valve for Hydraulic Ram, by Joseph C. Strode, West Chester, Pennsylvania, August 19, 1854.
1866 "Hydraulic Ram Observations," Gen. H. Haupt, October 10, 1866, reduced and compared by Henry Cartwright, Esq., Journal of the Franklin Institute 83(2):118 (February, 1867)
1871 "An Hydraulic Ram," Journal of the Franklin Institute 92:5-6 (July, 1872)
1873 The Salmon Run Water Company built a system in Granby, Connecticut that pumped water using a hydraulic ram.
1878 "The Hydraulic Ram," by C.L. Hett, from Scientific American Supplement 5(111):1762-1762 (February 16, 1878)
1878 "Description of a Montgolfier Ram built by the I.P. Morris Company, Philadelphia," by Washington Jones, Journal of the Franklin Institute 106:186-189 (September, 1878)
1884 "Rural Water Supply," by Charles L. Hett, Engineering News 11:226-227 (May 10, 1884) includes details on hydraulic ram calculations.
1885 Descriptive
Catalogue and Price List of Pumps, Engines, Rams: And Other Hydraulic
Machinery and Iron Goods Manufactured by the Goulds Manufacturing Co.,
at Their Works, Seneca Falls, N.Y., U.S.A.
Pages 224-228: Hydraulic Rams
1890 Manual of American Water Works,
Volume 2.
Page 150: Red Lion, Pennsylvania. Red Lion Water Co.
projected, pumping to reservoir 225 feet above, by hydraulic ram.
1891 Manual of American Water Works,
Volume 3.
Page 401: Wolcottville, Indiana, built in '89 by Wolcottville
Water-Works Co. for fire protection. Supply, mill-race, pumping by means
of hydraulic ram to tank.
1896 "The
Hydraulic Ram for Use in Public Water Works Systems," by Daniel W.
Mead, Rockford, from Annual Report of the Illinois Society of
Engineers and Surveyors 11:50-64
Page 53: West Dundee, Illinois water works in 1894
Page 55: Algonquin, Illinois water works in 1895
1897 Manual of American Water Works,
Volume 4.
Page 361: Algonquin, Illinois, built in '89 by city. Pumping by
hydraulic ram
Page 370: Dundee, Illinois, built in '95 by village, 90,000 8-in
hydraulic ram
Page 395: West Dundee, Illinois, built in '95 by village, a
hydraulic ram is used for domestic purposes
Page 444: Hokah, Minnesota, Built in '95 by village for fire
protection, supplied by 7,500 gall. hydraulic ram
Page 516: Ferris, Texas, built in '94 by Mutz & Cassidy, pumping
by hydraulic ram
Pages 524-525: Texas City, Texas, Built in '96 by Inman Terminal
& Dock Co., for the fire protection of their cotton sheds and
warehouses. A 24,000-gall. hydraulic ram lifts water.
[1910] The Hydraulic Ram for use in Public Water Works Systems, by Daniel W. Mead, Rockford, Ill.
1936 "Joseph de Montgolfier et le Bélier Hydraulique," by Charles Cabanes, Transactions of the Newcomen Society 17(1):85-90 (1936)
1936 "Early
Years of the Hydraulic Ram," by H. W. Dickinson, Transactions of
the Newcomen Society 17(1):73-78 (1936)
Page 75: [Description of invention and partial translation, included above
with 1798 French patent] Brevet d'invention de 15 ans pris le 13 brumaire
An VI (3 Nov. 1797) par Montgoifier et Argand; brevet de perfectionnement
et d'addition delivre le 7 prairial an VI (6 May 1798).
Brevet d'invention de 15 ans pris le 7 prairial an VI (26 May 1798) par
Montgolfier frères et Ami Argand. The last-named patent specification
alone has been printed, see Description des Machines Sér. 1, Vol.
IV, 245; incidentally it constitutes really a memoir on the subject.
Page 78: We have an interesting sidelight upon what was taking
place, confirmatory of Montgolfier's claim to the invention, in a letter
dated London, Sept. 3, 1798, from Joshua Gilpin of Philadelphia to
Boulton:
"I now take the liberty for myself to ask whether yourself or Mr. Watt
have made any models or real Machines of the Invention you have lately
patented for Argannd & Montgolfier for raising water, as I should be
happy to see it, or to procure a model executed with your improvements to
take to America for my own and Mr Fulton's use; as we were both present at
the experiments in Paris made by Montgolfier & Argannd & Mr.
Fulton has purchased of them the patent right for America & I am sure
would be glad to receive a model of it thro' me as he goes direct to
America."
The substance of Boulton's answer of Sept. 23 will be gathered from Mr.
Gilpin's reply of Jan. 17, 1799:-
"Pursuant to your request I called on your Attorney Mr. Weston who
obligingly gave me two Copies of the Specification of the Belle Hydraulic
(sic) for which I feel myself highly obliged to you; I very much agree
with you, so far as I understand it, that it will not soon or readily be
applied to common uses & this I thought at first seeing it at Paris.
However, it is an invention highly ingenious & when I visit Birmingham
I will certainly avail myself of your kind offer of visiting the one you
are erecting at Soho."
Gilpin, however, did not find time to pay the projected visit. The
reference to Fulton is highly interesting but as far as the writer is
aware he never did anything with the ram in America.
1975 "The Introduction of the American Water Ram, ca. 1843-1850," by Arthur Channing Downs, Jr., Bulletin of the Association for Preservation Technology 7(4):56-103 (1975)
1979 "The American Water Ram, Part II," by Arthur Channing Downs, Jr., Bulletin of the Association for Preservation Technology 11(1):81-94 (1979)
1983 Stronger
Than a Hundred Men: A History of the Vertical Water Wheel, by
Terry S. Reynolds
Pages 335-338: Hydraulic ram
Hydraulic Ram (Wikipedia)
© 2018 Morris A. Pierce