CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Oram and William Oram, both of Salford, in
the County of Lancaster, Machinists, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES."
Sealed the 17th November 1854, and dated the 22nd May 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Oram and William
Oram at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 22nd May 1854.
We, ROBERT ORAM and WILLIAM ORAM, both of Salford, in the County of
Lancaster, Machinists, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES" to be as follows:-
Our improvements consist, first, in the introduction of a small inner
stationary ram into the cylinder of the "press," bearing such a proportionate
length to the depth or chamber of the common ram, or that which works
between the stationary ram and the outer cylinder, that when the table of the
"press" is at or near the top of the framing, the common or intermediate ram
may still encircle and confine the orifice and upper end of the stationary ram
through which the pressure of water is conducted.
Our improvements consist, secondly, in the application of two or more
threaded screws to the double-supply valves (the one for the supply of water

page_text: to the common ram, the other to allow water to fill the vacuum, which is
caused in the cylinder upon the ascending of the ram), so that the supply may
be cut off, or the pressure retained by one quarter revolution of the screws,
whereby a great desideratum is attained, namely, the quicker action of the
valves.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Oram and William Oram in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd November 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
ORAM and WILLIAM ORAM, both of Salford, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinists, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Robert Oram and William Oram, Her especial license that we, the said
Robert Oram and William Oram, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Robert Oram and William Oram, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Robert Oram and
William Oram, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Robert Oram and William Oram, do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
Our improvements consist, first, in the introduction of a small inner
stationary ram into the cylinder of hydraulic presses, and rising from its centre

page_text: bearing, or having such proportionate length to the depth or chamber of the
common ram, (or that which works between the stationary ram and cylinder,)
that when the table of the press is at the limit of its elevation, the common
or intermediate ram may still encircle and confine the orifice and upper end
of the stationary ram, through which the pressure of water is in the first
instance conducted.
Our improvements consist, secondly, in the application to double-supply
valves of worms or screws, so threaded that the supply may be cut off or the
pressure retained instantaneously by one revolution or parts of a revolution of
such screw or worm, whereby a great desideratum is attained, inasmuch as
heretofore many revolutions of the screws for the purpose of shutting the valves
have been necessary, and in consequence of which the action of the valves
has been slow and comparatively inefficient.
But in order that our Invention may be better understood and explained
in detail, we have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawing; Fig. 1 being upon
a scale of about one inch to the foot, and representing a vertical section of the
first part of our Invention; Figs. 2 and 3, being made upon a scale of about
three-fourths the full size, and relating to the second part of our Invention.
On these two Figures the same letters refer to similar parts of the machine or
apparatus.
In Fig. 1, a represents the bed or table of a hydraulic press; and we may here
observe that the object of this part of our Invention is to facilitate and quicken
the rise of the table previously to applying the pressure required: this we effect
by first causing the water under pressure to pass through the small central
stationary ram 6 from the supply pipe e, the effect of which will be to elevate the
intermediate or common ram d, as shewn by the dotted lines; but as a greater
pressure may be required than the small superficial area e of the common ram
would yield from the pressure of the water, we open a second channel f, which
communicates with the lower surface or base of the intermediate or common
ram d, and allow the same pressure of water to act at the same time the
whole of the interior horizontal surface or superficial area of the common
ram d. It will now be evident that the elevation of the common ram, whilst
the stationary ram alone is supplied, will be in proportion as the small area e
of the common ram is to its entire horizontal superficial area, that is, supposing
the same pressure applied to both from a similar orifice. By this means we
considerably facilitate the packing of all light goods, such as wool, hay, horse
hair, &c., &c.
upon
In Fig. 3 we exhibit a horizontal section of our "double stop" or supply

page_text: valves. For the simultaneous action of the same, we employ two cog wheels
9 and h, acting upon their respective valves j and k, through variously threaded
screws, as may be desired. represents the supply or inlet pipe and ma
valve seat, (a vertical section of which is, delineated in Fig. 2,) the use of
which we will now,particularly describe. When the common or intermediate
ram & becomes partially elevated, a vacuum would be formed beneath it, which
necessarily must retard its rising; to prevent this, we provide a communication
between the cistern and the interior of the cylinder n through the valve seat m.
It will now be understood, that so quickly as there becomes a tendency to
create a vacuum beneath the common ram d, the pressure of the atmosphere
in the cistern causes the water to flow by the communication before mentioned
through the valve scat m and channel or orifice f, (Fig. 1,) and to occupy the
space vacated by the rising of the intermediate ram. By such means we obtain
free play for the rising ram and table; but so quickly as the attendant or
operative may consider it necessary whilst packing to employ greater pressure
than the smaller area e will yield, by causing a revolution of the screw o,
(Fig. 2,) he depresses the valve p and closes the valve seat m, thus shutting
off that communication with the interior of the cylinders; ho then makes a
whole or part revolution of the wheels g and h, the effect of which is to open
the valve k; the compressed fluid then immediately escapes by the circular
way 9, round the valve p, through the junction pipe r, and second channel
(Fig. 1); and the same pressure that operates in the interior of the ram d
now likewise operates on the whole horizontal superficial area of the common
ram d, by which means the maximum pressure is attained. Fig. 2 exhibits
more plainly the valve p, the communication with the cistern by which we
supply the vacuum caused by elevating the ram d when the valve k is closed,
as well as the means by which a channel or way is preserved when the valve p
is closed, the seat of the valve being below the general channel.
Having now particularly described the nature of our Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed and put into practical effect,
we wish it to be particularly understood that we claim,―
First, the construction, employment, and use of an inner stationary ram,
bearing or having such a longitudinal proportion to the bore or chamber within
which it works, that the limits of the traverse of the table or bed may not
allow the intermediate or common rain to rise above the orifice or opening
of the stationary ram, as herein particularly set forth and described and fully
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly, we claim the construction, arrangement, application, and use of

page_text: "the double-stop" or supply valve, and the shutting or closing the valves of
hydraulic presses instantaneously by one revolution or part of a revolution
of a screw or worm acted upon by any appropriate and convenient mechanism.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Oram and William Oram, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-first day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
ROBERT ORAM.
(LS.)
WILLIAM ORAM. (LS.)