The beam pump Coultershaw Wharf and Beam Pump

sorocold s water wheel on river thames

the beam pump installed in mill in 1782 3rd earl of egremont pump water river petworth , home @ petworth house, 1.5 mi (2.4 km) north of mill , more 150 ft (46 m) higher. identity of designer of pump @ coultershaw unknown but, similar in design pumps installed george sorocold under london bridge in 1705, probable lord egremont aware of these pumps visits london.

similar pumps installed nearby in west sussex @ same time, @ uppark , bignor park, , in 1840s @ woolbeding, although these @ london bridge have been destroyed, leaving pump @ coultershaw surviving example, although project restore pump @ woolbeding commenced in 2014.

the pump operated breastshot water wheel direct coupled three-throw crankshaft (cast in 1912) swung 3 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m) long beams pivoted @ 1 end through connecting rods. pump plunger rods connected outer free ends of beams travel in substantially straight-line motion; these fitted back 6 in (150 mm) diameter leather cups , non-return valves made leather flaps. pump has 3 cylinders 6.5 in (165 mm) bore , stroke of 13 in (330 mm). pump produce operating pressure of in excess of 75 psi (520 kpa).

the water drawn main culvert feeding wheel means of vertical oak penstock, through 4 in (100 mm) diameter cast iron pipe, , delivered through 3 in (80 mm) diameter cast iron pipe reservoirs @ petworth. @ later date, compressed air vessel installed in delivery line reduce pressure fluctuations. between pump , petworth, there number of non-return valves. @ peak, pump deliver water @ rate of 20,000 imp gal (91,000 l; 24,000 us gal) per day, or hogshead minute .

the original water wheel made entirely of wood replaced in mid-19th century iron wheel cast @ chorley iron foundry @ cocking. present wheel has 2 cast iron spiders hexagonal centres fixed wrought iron shaft. spiders 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m) in diameter oak paddles 16 in (410 mm) deep 4 ft 6 in (1.4 m) wide, making overall diameter of wheel 11 ft 2 in (3.4 m). alignment between crankshaft , waterwheel shaft not accurate; reduce friction, bearings between wheel , pump left loose. when operating, pump noisy , clatter heard throughout mill building. since has been restored, flexible coupling has been inserted between 2 shafts, reducing amount of clatter.

the pump survived fire destroyed original mill in 1923 , continued operate in replacement building until 1960. because no other beam pump of similar size , age in working order known exist, restored coultershaw pump declared ancient monument in 1980.