Machinery Actuated by Explosive Gaseous Mixtures.
Year: 1887

page_text: Machinery Actuated by Explosive Gaseous Mixtures.
I CHARLES WILLIAM PINKNEY of No. 5 Regent Street Smethwick in the County
of Stafford Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be
as follows :-
the workman
gas
My invention has reference principally to gas hammers and machinery of the kind
for which Letters Patent were granted to James Robson on the 5th day of
October 1880 No. 4050 and also on the 11th day of February 1885 No. 1886 and has
for its object principally to facilitate the alteration of the stroke of the hammer so that
may at will easily regulate the blow the hammer shall give.
Although my improvements are principally applicable to gas hammers of the kind
indicated yet my improvements are applicable wholly or in part to other hammers.
I will describe my invention in connection with a gas hammer.
In the said gas hammers as ordinarily constructed the strength of the blow is
regulated by varying the point at which the gas supply is cut off while the upper
When a blow of full strength is required gas
piston is making its charging stroke.
is admitted along with air during the whole of the charging stroke. When a blow of
less than the full strength is required the gas is admitted during only a portion of the
charging stroke. This is effected by the action of a cam and lover so arranged that
when the lever is in one position gas and air are admitted into the cylinder simulta-
neously while in another position of the said lever air only is first taken into the
cylinder and afterwards a mixture of gas and air the relative proportions depending
on the required strength of the blow of the hammer.
In order to facilitate the regulation of the blow of the hammer I construct and
When a blow of full strength is
arrange the driving parts in the following manner.
required the piston is made to move through its full stroke thereby taking into the
When a lighter
cylinder a full charge of the detonating mixture of gas and air.
blow is required the stroke of the piston is correspondingly shortened and a smaller
charge is consequently taken into the cylinder.
In order to effect this the hand wheel ordinarily employed is dispensed with and a
long link connects the piston rod guide of the charging piston with a balanced lever
below. Or two levers inay be employed one connected to the piston rod guide above

page_text: and the other below the said levers being connected by a link.
In this case the com-
bined weights of the lower lever and the link partly balances the piston. The lower
lever is operated by hand and effects the working of the charging piston the stroke
of the charging piston being altered at will by the extent to which the operator moves
the hand lever. When the full blow of the hammer is required the hand lever is
depressed through its whole range and when a light blow is required the said lever is
depressed only to a distance proportionate to the blow required. When a very light
blow is required a relief valve is employed. This valve opens a communication
between the explosion space on the top of the charging piston and a closed chamber
of considerable capacity and the explosion in part expends itself in compressing the
air in the said chamber and the force of the blow of the hammer is thereby diminished.
The relief valve may also communicate with the cylinder at any desired point so that
the hammer piston will uncover the exhaust passage while making its down stroke and
discharge the contents of the cylinder at the desired time. By the action of the relief
valve the pressure upon the hammer piston may be reduced to any desired extent and
the blow of the haminer consequently reduced in force but not in range.
The method of shortening the stroke of the charging piston may be used in combi-
nation with the method of relieving the pressure or either arrangement may be used
separately.
The pressure of the explosion may also be relieved by checking the charging piston
slightly on its arriving at the termination of its up stroke thereby preventing the
exhaust port from being completely covered. When the explosion occurs part of the
explosion is relieved through the valves in the charging piston and by the exhaust
port. A stop can be applied by a lever which stop will fix the exact point of termination
of the travel of the upper piston. The force of the blow may also be relieved in the
following manner. The hammer piston on making its upward stroke by the action of
its spring may be prevented from rising to its usual height by one or two inches by
allowing the check of the upstroke to be made by striking the usual buffer on a
movable lever which when in one position rests against the cylinder but in another
position may be moved down so as to meet the buffer plate earlier. This lever is
suitably connected so as to be under command of either the hand or the foot.
To enable the workman to work the hammer himself and still have both hands free
to manipulate the forging I employ foot gear constructed as follows:-The lower
balanced lever described is brought sufficiently low to be actuated by the foot and is so
arranged that it passes to the front of the hammer. A wide treadle extending across
the whole front of the hammer forms the end of the lever and while the workman is
standing on either side of the hammer he can easily place his foot on the treadle and
move the lever and charging piston at will. By pressing the treadle through its full
range the maximum blow is obtained and by limiting the range of movement of the
treadle blows of less force are obtained just as with the hand lever. The relief valve
may also be put under the control of the foot. To effect this a lever with a palm on
the end of it is so arranged that the palm is within range of the toe of the foot.
When the foot has pressed the charging lever to the bottom of its stroke if the foot
turned aside slightly the toe misses the palm of the relief valve lever and by restoring
the straight position of the foot the toe strikes the relief valve lever at the end of the
stroke and opens the valve. When the explosion occurs the blow is lessened in
consequence of the diminished pressure.
Two relief valve levers and suitable connections may be provided one on each side
of the hammer block so that the relief valve may be actuated from either side at will.
The application of my improvements to stamping punching and other like machinery
actuated by explosive gaseous mixtures differs in no essential respect from their
application to gas hammers as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Eighth day of February 1887.

page_text: Machinery Actuated by Explosive Gaseous Mixtures.
I CHARLES WILLIAM PINKNEY of No. 5 Regent Street Smethwick in the County
of Stafford Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has reference principally to gas hanımers and machinery of the kind
for which Letters Patent were granted to James Robson on the 5th day of October 1880
No. 4050 and also on the 11th day of February 1885 No. 1886, and has for its
object principally to facilitate the alteration of the stroke of the hammer so that the
workman may at will easily regulate the blow the hammer shall give.
Although my improvements are principally applicable to gas hammers of the kind
indicated yet my improvements are applicable wholly or in part to other gas
hammers.
I will describe my invention in connection with a gas hammer.
In the said gas hammers as ordinarily constructed the strength of the blow is
regulated by varying the point at which the gas supply is cut off while the upper
piston is making its charging stroke. When a blow of full strength is required
gas is admitted along with air during the whole of the charging stroke.
When a blow of less than the full strength is required the gas is admitted during
only a portion of the charging stroke. This is effected by the action of a cam and
lever so arranged that when the lever is in one position gas and air are admitied into
the cylinder simultaneously while in another position of the said lever, air only is
first taken into the cylinder and afterwards a mixture of gas and air, the relative
proportions depending on the required strength of the blow of the hammer.
In order to facilitate the regulation of the blow of the hammer 1 construct and
arrange the driving parts in the following manner. When a blow of full strength is
required the piston is made to move through its full stroke thereby taking into the
cylinder a full charge of the detonating mixture of gas and air. When a lighter blow
is required the stroke of the piston is correspondingly shortened and a smaller charge
is consequently taken into the cylinder.
In order to effect this the hand wheel ordinarily employed is dispensed with and a
long link connects the piston rod guide of the charging piston with a balanced lever
below. Or two levers may be employed, one connected to the piston rod guide above
and the other below, the said levers being connected by a link. In this case the
combined weights of the lower lever and the link partly balances the piston. The
lower lever is operated by hand and effects the working of the charging piston the
stroke of the charging piston being altered at will by the extent to which the operator
moves the hand lever. When the full blow of the hammer is required the hand lever
is depressed through its whole range and when a light blow is required the said lever

page_text: is depressed only to a distance proportionate to the blow required. When a very
light blow is required a relief valve is employed. This valve opens a communication
between the explosion space on the top of the charging piston and a closed chamber
of considerable capacity and the explosion in part expends itself in compressing the
air in the said chamber and the force of the blow of the hammer is thereby diminished.
The relief valve may also communicate with the cylinder at any desired point so that
the hammer piston will uncover the exhaust passage while making its down stroke
and discharge the contents of the cylinder at the desired time.
By the action of the relief valve the pressure upon the hammer piston may be reduced
to any desired extent and the blow of the haminer consequently reduced in force but
not in range.
The method of shortening the stroke of the charging piston may be used in com-
bination with the method of relieving the pressure or either arrangeinent may be used
separately.
The pressure of the explosion may also be relieved by checking the charging piston
slightly on its arriving at the termination of its up stroke thereby preventing the
exhaust port from being completely covered. When the explosion occurs
part of the explosion is relieved through the valves in the charging piston
and by the exhaust port. A stop can be applied by a lever which stop will fix
the exact point of termination of the travel of the upper piston. The force of
the blow may also be relieved in the following manner. The hammer piston on making
its upward stroke by the action of its spring may be prevented from rising to its
usual height by one or two inches by allowing the check of the upstroke to be made
by striking the usual buffer on a movable lever which when in one position rests
against the cylinder but in another position may be moved down so as to meet the
buffer plate earlier. This lever is suitably connected so as to be under command by
either the hand or the foot.
To enable the workman to work the hammer himself and still have both hands free
to manipulate the forging I employ foot gear constructed as follows. The lower
balanced lever described is brought sufficiently low to be actuated by the foot and is so
arranged that it passes to the front of the hammer. A wide treadle extending across
the whole front of the hammer forms the end of the lever and while the workman is
standing on either side of the hammer he can easily place his foot on the treadle and
move the lever and charging piston at will. By pressing the treadle through its full
range the maximum blow is obtained and by limiting the range of movement of the
treadle, blows of less force are obtained just as with the hand lever. The relief valve
may also be put under the control of the foot. To effect this, a lever with a palm on the
When
end of it is so arranged that the palm is within range of the toe of the foot.
the foot has pressed the charging lever to the bottom of its stroke if the foot is turned
aside slightly the toe misses the palm of the relief valve lever and by restoring the straight
position of the foot the toe strikes the relief valve lever at the end of the stroke and
opens the valve. When the explosion occurs the blow is lessened in consequence of
the diminished pressure.
Two relief valve levers and suitable connections may be provided one on each side
of the hammer block so that the relief valve may be actuated from either side
at will.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent elevations (partly in vertical section) taken in planes at
right angles to one another of a gas hammer in which the blow is varied by regulating
the position of the charging piston in conjunction with a relief valve and mechanism
for working the same, together with minor parts constructed according to my inven
tion Figure 3 represents in horizontal section a portion of the same taken on the
line A, A Figure 1. In the gas hammer represented in Figures 1. 2 and the
position of the charging piston is regulated and the relief valve operated by hand.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1. 2 and 3.
a is the charging piston working in the cylinder b and c is the hammer piston also

page_text: working in the said cylinder the charge of the detonating mixture of gas and air
being taken into the cylinder band between the two pistons a and c from the pipe <².
The charge of the gaseous mixture is drawn into the cylinder by the up stroke of the
charging piston a and by regulating the stroke of the said piston a in the manner
hereinafter described the amount of the charge taken into the said cylinder 6 and
consequently the blow of the hammer may be varied. The explosion of the charge
gives the down stroke to the hammer piston c and hammer carried by it the said
hammer piston and hammer being raised after the hammer has made its blow by the
double telescopic or conical ribbon or band spring c³, caround the piston rod of the
hammer piston the said spring being compressed by the down stroke of the hammer
piston. The small end of each part of the conical spring c³ takes an abutment against
the collar cat the middle of the piston rod, the large end of the upper part of the
spring taking an abutment against the underside of the pistone and the large end of
the lower part of the spring taking an abutment against the hammer frame as seen
in Figure 1. As the hammer descends the double conical spring c³ is compressed
by its convolutions sliding one within another; p is the exhaust port for taking
away the spent or exploded gases, the said port p opening into the explosion space k
(see Figure 2) at the top of the charging piston a.
In order to regulate the stroke of the charging piston a I apply to it the following
hand worked mechanism; is a long link jointed at top to the lever the inner end
of which lever is connected to the piston rod guide e of the charging piston a. The lower
end of the link d is jointed to the short arm of the cranked weighted lever g g². The
combined weights of the weight g² on the lever g and the link d partly balances the
charging piston a. By means of the hand lever g the working of the charging
piston a is effected the stroke of the charging piston a being altered at will by the
extent to which the operator moves the said band lever g through the arcs or portions
of the ares indicated in the drawing.
When a blow of full strength is required in the hammer the short arm of the hand
lever y is depressed through its whole range by raising the long arm of the said hand
lever and the piston a takes the position represented in Figure 1 and when a light
blow is required the said short arm of the band lever g is depressed only to a distance
proportionate to the blow required. The position of the charging piston a in its
cylinder is thereby changed and a less charge of the detonating gaseous mixture is
taken into the cylinder.
I will now describe the relief valve and parts connected with it which relief valve
is used when a very light blow is required.
k
in
(see Figure 2) is the relief valve opening and closing the passage the said valve
being worked by the hand lever ² and rod 73. The passage is in communication
with the explosion space k at the top of the charging piston a. The passage
which the relief valve his situated is in communication by means of the vertical pipe m
with a closed or air cushion chamber in the upright of the hammer (see Figure 1 and
the horizontal section Figure 3). By opening the valve h by means of its hand lever /2
part of the spent gases from the explosion space & passes by the pipes k³ and m to the
closed or cushion chamber compressing the air in the said chamber and the force of
the blow is thereby diminished. By the action of the relief valve the pressure upon
the hammer piston c may be reduced to any desired extent and the blow of the
hammer consequently reduced in force but not in range. Or the relief valve h may
be applied to about the middle or other part of the cylinder instead of to the top of
the cylinder as described and represented in Figure 2. This modification is represented
in elevation and vertical section in Figure 6 where ² is the passage in which the
relief valve is situated in cominunication by the vertical pipa in with the closed or
cushion chamber into which the spent gases pass. In this arrangement the passage k²
is uncovered by the descent of the hammer piston c and as the gases pass direct to
the chamber the heating of the charging piston a by the heated gases is avoided.
Figure 4 represents in side elevation and Figure 5 in plan a gas hammer in which
the charging piston and relief valve are worked by foot gear instead of by hand.
d is the long link for working the charging piston u. The upper end of the said

page_text: link in this arrangement is connected directly to the piston rod guide e instead of
through a lever is the balanced lever situated at the base of the hammer so that it
can be worked by the foot. The said lever passes to the front of the hammer and
has at its front end a wide treadle & which "extends across the whole front of the
hammer as seen in Figure 5. By this arrangement the workman standing on either
side of the hammer can place his foot on the treadle v and move the lever g, rod d and
charging piston a at will.
By pressing the treadle a fully down the charging piston a is raised to its full
extent in the cylinder b and the maximum blow is obtained and by limiting the range
of the movement of the treadle through portions of the arc indicated in Figure 4,
blows of less force may be obtained. The mechanism for working the relief valve /
by the foot consists of the two side levers y, y connected together by the solid axis 2
passing through the tubular shaft carrying the lever 7 of the charging piston
inechanism. One of the side levers y is jointed to. a rod y³ connected to the relief
valve rod ³ in the tube m. Each side lever y is furnished with a palm y cach palm
being so situated that it is within range of the toe of the attendant pressing the
treadle at either side of the hammer. When the foot has pressed the charging
piston a to the bottom of its stroke if the foot be turned slightly aside it misses the
palm y² of the relief valve lever y and by restoring the straight position of the foot the
toe strikes the relief valve lever at the end of the stroke and opens the relief valve h.
When the explosion occurs the blow is lessened in consequence of the diminished
pressure.
Instead of using two relief valve levers as represented one only may be used but I
prefer the arrangement represented in the drawing.
Figures 7 and 8 represent side elevations (partly in section) taken at right angles
to one another and Figure 9 a horizontal section of the arrangement for relieving the
pressure of the explosion by preventing the exhaust port being completely closed by
the charging piston on the latter reaching the termination of its up stroke. The
parts in this arrangement by which portion of the explosion is relieved are the same
as those hereinbefore described, namely, through the valves in the charging piston
and by the exhaust port p.
The checking of the charging piston a so as to fix the exact point of the termination
of its upward motion is effected by the stopy on the fixed framing of the hammer the
said stop limiting the motion of the weighted lever g by which the charging piston
is adjusted through the link d and lever as before described.
In order still further to limit the motion of the said lever a wedge sliding upon
the stop to a greater or less extent diminishes more or less the range through which
the said lever g can be moved. The wedger is operated by the small lever
action of which will be understood by reference to Figures 8 and 9.
the
Or the stop and wedge arrangement for checking the upward motion of the
charging piston may be operated by the foot. In this case the parts are modified in
the manner represented in the side elevations taken at right angles to one another
Figures 10 and 11, and in the plan Figure 12 g is the foot lever and a the treadle of
the same for operating the charging piston a as described with respect to Figures 4
and 5. Over the said treadle of the foot lever y are shoes 5, 5 swivelling on the
treadle lever of the hammer at 6, 6 and connected together by the rod 7 upon which
the foot bears on pressing down the treadle .. On the underside of the shoes 55
are wedges 8 S and on the base of the hammer are stops 10 10. When the shoes 5,5
are in their normal or straight position as represented in Figure 11 the pressing down
of the treadle is not interfered with and consequently the upward stroke of the
charging piston is not altered as the wedges 8, 8 escape past and do not strike the
stops 10 10.
When however the shoes 55 are turned aside as illustrated in Figure 12
one of the wedges 8, 8 is brought over and strikes one of the stops 10, 10 as seen in
Figure 10 and the descent of the lever g is thereby limited and the charging piston
a consequently checked in its upward stroke.
Figure 13 represents in side elevation an arrangement for relieving the force of the
blow of the hammer by checking the upward motion of the hammer piston c; u is the

page_text: buffer on the hammer piston the said buffer swivelling on the centre v; t is the lever
pressing upon the said buffer u. The lever is jointed to the frame of the hammer
and can be depressed more or less so as to meet the swivelling buffer on the rising
hammer piston at any desired point and thereby check the upward stroke of the
hammer piston. The dotted lines at w indicate different positions of the hammer
piston e under the influence of the lever t. The lever is worked by the hand lever t²
through the link t³, cranked lever and link .
In working the checking levert for limiting the ascent of the hammer piston by
means of the foot the parts are modified in the manner illustrated in Figure 14; u is
the swivelling buffer and the lever pressed against the said buffer. The lever t is
notched at 2. Above the buffer levert is a pawl lever 4 drawn upwards by a spring
and connected by the rod 3 to a foot lever having a palm similar to that represented
in Figures 4 and 5. On the descent of the hammer piston c the notched lever tis
depressed and by placing the foot on the palm of the foot lever, the connecting rod 3
depresses the pawl lever 4 and its end engages in one or other of the notches at 2 in
the lever thereby limiting the height to which the said lever and hammer piston can
rise so long as the foot is pressed upon the palm of the foot lever.
The application of my improvements to stamping punching and other like machinery
actuated by explosive gaseous mixtures differs in no essential respect from their
application to gas hammers as herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and
the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my invention
of "Improvements in hammering stamping punching and other like machinery
actuated by explosive gaseous mixtures."
First Regulating the blow of the gas hammer and other like machinery by
operating the top or charging piston so as to vary the stroke of the said top or charg-
ing piston and thereby vary the charge of the detonating gaseous mixture drawn into
the cylinder by the upstroke of the said top or charging piston the operating of the
said top or charging piston being effected either by hand or by foot gear substantially
as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompany-
ing Drawings.
Secondly The combination in a gas hammer or other like machinery of the relief
valve operated either by hand or by foot gear for relieving the pressure in the
cylinder and consequently reducing the force of the blow of the hammer or other like
machinery substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly The combination with the relief valve h of the cushion chamber in which
the exploded gases from the cylinder pass when the relief valve is opened and the air
in the said cushion chamber compressed substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly The combination or arrangement of the parts herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings for operating by hand
the top or charging piston and the relief valve of the gas hammer or other like
machinery.
Fifthly The combination or arrangement of the parts of the foot gear herein before
described and illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying Drawings for
operating the top or charging piston and the relief valve of the gas hammer or other
like machinery.
Sixthly The construction and combination of parts herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying Drawings for relieving the
pressure of the explosion by checking the top or charging piston on its arriving at
the termination of its up stroke and thereby preventing the exhaust port being
completely closed.
Seventhly The construction and combination of the parts of the foot gear and
mechanism connected therewith hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 10, 11
and 12 of the accompanying Drawings for relieving the pressure of the explosion by

page_text: checking the top or charging piston on its arriving at the termination of its up stroke
and thereby preventing the exhaust port being completely closed.
.
Eighthly The construction and combination of the checking parts herein before
described and illustrated in Figure 13 of the accompanying Drawings for
limiting the rising motion of the hammer piston and thereby relieving the force of tlie
blow of the gas hammer or other like machinery.
Ninthly The construction and combination of the checking parts herein before
described and illustrated in Figure 14 of the accompanying Drawings for limiting the
rising motion of the hammer piston and thereby relieving the force of the blow of the
gas hammer or other like machinery.
Lastly The combination with a gas hammer or other like machinery of a double
telescopic ribbon or band spring or double conical spring situated concentric with the
axis of the piston rod for giving the upward stroké to the hammer piston in place of
the two external springs commonly employed for that purpose substantially as herein
Before described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this Fourteenth day of September 1887.