The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-10-12
DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 12, 1865.
A New Cotton Press.

The following, which we clip from tho European
Times Of the 29d ult., may be OF interest to many
of our readers
On the 10Th, a public exhibition took place at
the engine works Of Mcssrs. Routlcdge S Omman-
ney, Salford of Ashcroft's patent combined steam
and hydraulic cotton press, with revolving boxes.
In this new form Of cotton prcss q combination of
steam and hydraulic power is brought to- bear
upon the cotton to be compressed, in a simple but
effective manner. The entire apparatus stands in
a space IS feet high, Il feet long, and u feet
usual baling box, n steam engine being placed
above it, which gives motion to the whole. A &C.
cond cotton box is placed in position adjoining
cts, which reyovo round one of the columns of the
press and are supported by gun metal balls, thus
reducing the friction to small point, The two
surface to avoid friction during the operation Of
pressing. The second box is thus outside the
framing of the press, and is being filed with cot
the bale in the other box. As soon as that opera,
tion is completed the two boxes are swung round
place Of the first bale within the press apparatus
tho operation being very similar to turning loco
motive on railway trrn-table. The application
OF the steam and hydraulic power is produced by
the action Of steam cylinder, at the head Of the
press, moving strong cross-hoad, to which are
small ones, having the full stroke of the cylinder.
The large pumps continue in operation until tho
cotton is compressed to within fow inches of it's
the operation OF pressing bale of Egyptian cot
ton of 400 pounds. The time taken to press and
hoop bale was four minutes. the usual time III
hydraulic presses III Egypt beng about fifteen
minutes.
The advantages claimed for this press arc the
rapidity of the rise of ram, in consequence Of the
first fow feet OF the rise being made by steam only,
after which, when greater pressure is required
the hydraulic power comes into force, the total
rise only occupying about forty-fve seconds, and
the time for the fall Of the ram is twenty-five
seconds. Having two boxes, ono is be ing filled al
the time the bale in the other is being pressed
and tied; on the completion Of one bale the Other
box is easily moved under the press in conse
quonce of the boxes revolving one Of the col
umns Of the. press; great saving of time, in conse
quence of the quick riso and fall Of the ram, ant
the construction of the revolving boxes; saving O.
freight, from tho great density TO which the cot
ton is pressed, viz: from % to so lbs to the cubic
foot against about II lbs, as obtained by tho or
binary hydraulic press in Egypt; saving oflabor-
from tho symPlicity Of the press tho whole of tn
r pressing can be managed by one man, who, with
lever, regulates the working of the press, in the
place Of the number of men required to work the
ordinary pumps, press, and gearing in Egypt; and
finally, the saving Of fuel is estimated at 9ohe
fourth, in consequence of the arrangements of the
working part of the press and pumps and steam
power to work tho press being combined in on,
machine.