Improved Means for Operating Hydraulic Shears, Punching Machines, Presses, and similar Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Operating Hydraulic Shears, Punching Machines,
Presses, and similar Apparatus.
I, CASPAR PAUL SCHUMACHER (commonly known as Caspar Schumacher) of the
firm of L. W. Breuer, Schumacher & Co. of Kalk near Cologne in the German
Empire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 relates to improved means for operating hydraulic machines such
as used for shearing, punching, pressing, rivetting and analogous purposes in which
the necessary hydraulic pressure is obtained from a piston actuated by steam
pressure.
To clearly explain the nature of same reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which Figure 1 as illustrating the simplest form of my invention will
be first described.
In this Figure the apparatus consists of a cylinder A which is supplied with
steam from below, and the single acting piston of which through its rod B forces
water or some other liquid through the pump cylinder C to a hydraulic cylinder D,
which, by means of the driving block E transmits the pressure thus produced
direct to the blade F after which the piston of a small steam cylinder G, situated
above the blade will lift the driving block E, together with the upper blade, back
into its original position.
The effect of the operation of this hydraulic transmission in shears of this nature
is a stroke of each cylinder exactly in inverse ratio to the power transmitted, that is
of the upper blade F of the shears to the stroke of the large piston. Should a
bar with the cross-section 1, 2, 3, 4, have to be cut, the full stroke of the
blade F is necessary for this purpose, and consequently the full power of the
machine is exerted and in machines as at present constructed the same would also
be the case with a bar having the cross-section 5, 6, 7, 8, in spite of the fact that
this is only about half the thickness of the first bar.
Now to obviate this and to regulate the supply of steam exactly according to the
thickness of the bar placed between the shears, the arrangement shown in said Figure
and in the detail views Figures 2 and 3 is employed.
An adjustable slide-valve bis connected to the cylinder A and is so operated by
the hand-lever a that the steam entering through the pipe c can pass alternately
through the pipe d into the cylinder G of the shears and through the tube e
into the steam cylinder A, and in the same way can pass back into the exhaust
pipe f.
At a convenient point in the pipe d¹ of the pump-cylinder (which leads to the
hydraulic cylinder D is placed a valve gwhich communicates with a water-tank h.
This valve is closed by a spring, and also by the pressure of the water, whilst it
is opened by the lever i having thereon a suitable weight k. Moreover, the valve g is
also placed, by means of the combination of levers in connection with the handle a of
the steam slide-valve, so that it can be operated simultaneously with the latter.
The operation of this regulating gear, combined as described, is as follows: The
distributing lever a being at its highest point (Figures 1 and 3) steam passes
only into the cylinder G and through the piston rod cross beam and connecting
rods lifts the upper blade F to its highest position; at the same moment the valve
is opened by the pressure of the weight, and the excess water in the pipe d¹ as the
cylinder D rises is forced back into the water-tank h. When the regulating-lever a
is moved downwards to the middle position as indicated at a Figure 3 the passage
of steam to the cylinder G is immediately stopped, and the exhaust is opened. In
1. 171

page_text: consequence of this the driving-block E, together with the upper blade F, descends
by its own weight till it reaches the bar to be cut. The valve g being still open,
water will flow out of the water tank / till the pipe d¹ and cylinder C are quite full.
Then if the regulating lever a be moved to its lowest position, as indicated at a², the
weight operating on the valve g will be thereby raised, and the latter will be closed
with the assistance of the spring. At the same time the steam passage to the main
cylinder A is opened, and the pressure thereby produced in the cylinder D completes
the cutting operation. Then the regulating lever is moved back to its first position
after the stroke is concluded, and the order of procedure is repeated.
In the hereinbefore described machines both of the cylinders A and G, or the former
alone, may be worked by either compressed air or water which is under pressure or
has a good "head," instead of by steam. Furthermore, in this machine either
punching, pressing, rivetting or other tools can be substituted for the shear-blades.
In order now to obtain an automatic regulation for the shifting of the steam slide-
valve to given positions, as well as to be able to work the same with such definable
pressure tensions, and with as great hydraulic pressure as may be desired, the
improvements represented in Figures 4 and 5 are introduced.
During the operation of cutting, and especially in the shearing and punching of
heated materials, the cross-section to be divided is gradually diminished during the
cutting, and therefore the power required is not so great. It is possible therefore to
also reduce to a corresponding degree the pressure of the steam in the large cylinder A,
which, by means of the hydraulic transmission, operates the tool F.
This end is secured by the double-armed lever one arm of which is connected with
the steam distributing lever a, as shewn in Figure 4. The other arm of this lever is
curved like a sabre, and slides upon the beam m, which is provided with a fixed and
an adjustable roller 1 12. This beam, on its part, is connected with the driving
block E, and joins in the motion of the latter.
If now by lowering the distributing-lever a steam is admitted to the large steam-
cylinder A, the piston of the latter moves upwards, and through the agency of the
water which is driven out by the piston rod B, forces down the driving-block E,
together with the beam m thereto attached. Consequently, the fixed pulley of the
latter slides upon the one side of the sabre-shaped lever 1, and in consequence of the
curvature of this lever, draws the steam-valve 6 through the connected parts up
again; reduces the steam passing to the steam-cylinder A after the commencement of
the stroke, and then shuts it off, so that it works only by expansion, and finally arrests
it entirely at the end of the stroke, and opens the pipe to the exhaust. During the
back stroke, the adjustable pulley 12 slides in a contrary direction on the other side of
the sabre-shaped lever 1. If this pulley is shifted far up, the steam valve b will
be pressed downwards only to such a distance as to close the exhaust pipe. As
meanwhile the large piston, falling freely by its own weight, has not yet arrived
quite at its lowest position, the exhaust steam shut in by the slide valve 6 forms an
elastic cushion for the piston. The same end is also served by the piston-bed H
(Figure 4) into the cavity of which fits a corresponding projection on the steam-
piston, and upon its falling, a quantity of the exhaust steam (which is determined
by the height of this cavity) is shut in, which then similarly acts as an elastic
buffer.
If the adjustable pulley 12 is placed closer, then the steam valve b is naturally
pressed still further downwards, and the pipe is re-opened for the passage of steam,
thus affording a complete automatic regulator.
In the compression of many substances, as well as in the adaptation of the shears as
described to the purposes of a press, rivetting machine, etc., the resistance, and
therefore also the pressure, increases during the forward stroke, and on each occasion
the maximum given by the existing steam pressure is reached. In order, then, to
regulate the supply of steam, strictly in accordance with the requirements of the work
in hand, recourse is had to the pivoted lever n represented in Figure 5, which is
connected to the lever a and the main regulating gear through the rod n¹ which
passes through a hole in lever a. Said lever n is acted upon by a small piston o,

page_text: standing under the same hydraulic pressure as the hydraulic piston D. When the
lever a is shifted into the position a² and the pressure is on, the piston o presses on the
short end of the lever n, and on the rising of the pressure in the cylinder D to
the requisite height, raises the long arm of said lever, which through the rod n¹ raises
the lever a and the valve b, thus affording automatic regulation. As soon as the
pressure in the cylinder D falls the lever n' and rod n¹ will fall also. The desired
alteration in the height of the pressure is secured by the adjustable counterweight p
on the long arm of the joint lever n. On the requisite maximum of pressure being
reached, the steam pressure in the cylinder A will rise to its maximum; with a
smaller pressure the steam works by expansion, and the valve 6 is closed as soon as
the requisite pressure for the work in hand is obtained.
+
On compressing soft or spongy bodies it sometimes happens that the upper driving-
block buries itself so tightly in the substances under pressure that the steam power
obtainable in the cylinder Ġ which is sufficient, for ordinary cases is not adequate
for the purpose. A materially increased power is thus necessary, but only at the.
commencement of the withdrawal of the block. In order to obtain this high
starting power the small steam cylinder I is employed attached to the main
distributing gear as shown in Figure 5 as well as the small hydraulic cylinder K.
The former in its essential parts corresponds with the large steam cylinder A,
and likewise receives, only steam from below and in fact, by means of the same
steam-pipe and at the same moment as the cylinder G; in consequence of the
hydraulic power transmission in the smaller hydraulic cylinder K, it only produces a
pressure increasing in the ratio of the power-transmission, and since in the lowest
position of the block E, the upper bean m attached to same rests upon the piston of
the hydraulic cylinder K, the block E together with its tool F is lifted away from the
substance under pressure to assist its initial movement.
Furthermore, in this operation of compressing, etc., the sliding gear represented in
Figure 4 is not always available, in consequence of the increasing rise of the pressure.
It is so much more necessary in compressing spongy substances or in the before
described stroke of the block E, to let the piston of the cylinder A reach its highest
point, and then suddenly reverse it. This is carried into effect by the contrivance
shown in Figure 4.
On the head of the steam cylinder A a lever 7 is pivoted which is attached to a
regulator-pin passing through the cylinder head. When therefore the piston of the
cylinder A rises to its highest position, it automatically lifts the pin and in
consequence of the attachment of the latter to the levers g and a, also raises the steam
slide-valve b to such a height as to open the steam passage to the exhaust pipe so that
the steam piston falls back to its lower position.
is
By this method of working the distributing valve gear the distributing lever
shifted only to its intermediate position, the valve g situated in the water-tank has by
this position been also opened upwards, and the water flows out of the tank to fill the
vacuum caused in the cylinder C by.. the sinking of the steam piston and its piston-
rod B, whilst the block E, owing to the cylinder G not yet containing any
steam, remains quiescent in the position determined by the immediately preceding
pressure.
If now the distributing lever a, instead of being shifted upwards, is again placed in
its lowest position, the valve g is immediately closed, and by the action of the steam
now admitted into A, a similar quantity of water is forced towards the hydraulic
cylinder D.
- By suitable repetitions of this procedure, as well as by additional pressure, it is
possible with a comparatively small steam cylinder A, to obtain as large a stroke as
may be desired under high pressure in the hydraulic cylinder D, of course with the
necessary intervals of pressure caused by the descent of the steam piston, the hydraulic
cylinder D having thus a step by step movement until the full length of its operating
stroke is reached.
If these intervals of pressure are to be avoided, and a continuous hydraulic pressure

page_text: of whatever desired magnitude of stroke produced by unintermittent pressure, the
arrangement shown in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 is employed. Figure 6 represents
a front view of the apparatus, Figure 7 a side view of the steam cylinder portion and
Figures 8, 9, 16 and 11 enlarged views of the valves.
In this arrangement there are employed two steam cylinders A and A¹ controlled
by the same distributing gear, but working alternately.
The latter correspond exactly in their character with the single cylinder
arrangement; the distributing gear however is alternating, the lever a having two
arms, so that in consequence while one piston of A rises, that of A¹ descends.
In order to prevent the water which is forced through to the hydraulic cylinder
from the one steam cylinder being sucked into the other reversing cylinder, and
in order to enable the water to be pumped to three different places, a combination
of six valves is arranged, which are shown clearly in the enlarged views.
D is the usual hydraulic cylinder. L, in the cylinder M is a right-to-left as
well as reverse-working hydraulic piston, which is here connected by its piston-
rod with the lower thrust-block, so as to enable the latter to be moved on its base to
right or left. It can, however, be utilised for other purposes in accordance with the
intentions of the design. s and s¹ are two elbow valves, each with three outlets, of
which one is connected by the pipe-connections with the pump-cylinder C, of the
steam cylinder A; one is connected with the space behind the piston L in the
cylinder M, and lastly one is connected with the valves t and t¹. The two latter
are for their part again connected with the compound valves u and u¹; s and s¹
are cut-off valves which are closed by springs and also by the water-pressure
coming from the pump cylinders C and C, and are opened either by hand, by
means of an eccentric lever; or automatically by the recoil from the cylinder D.
The operation of the combination of valves in connection with the two steam
cylinders A and A' is as follows. If the piston L is to be moved from left to right,
the valve s is opened by the hand lever and s' u and u' closed. As soon then as the
valve b is forced downward by means of the distributing lever a, the cylinder A
receives steam, and the water is driven out (as there is no other channel open) through
the valves to the cylinder M, and consequently presses the piston L to the right. The
valve is thereby automatically opened by the water in front of the piston L which
passes into the tank h¹. The valve g' is also opened by the combination gearing; on
the other hand the valve s is closed and the valve s¹ opened, and the steam cylinder is
set in operation.
If the water is forced into the cylinder D the valves s and s¹ as well as u are closed,
and only u¹ opened. On starting work therefore, the water pressure produced by A
passes to the closed valves opens the recoil valve t, and passes through u¹ towards
the hydraulic cylinder D. The water pressure produced by A¹ passes likewise
in a similar manner to s¹, opens t¹ and passes through ¹ to the hydraulic
cylinder D.
On the cessation of the pressure the valve u is opened by hand and the water
again conducted (on the return stroke of D) to the two tanks h and h¹.
The hydraulic cylinder D, can also if desired be arranged from beneath, by which
means its piston will fall by its own weight, and the piston rod of the hydraulic
piston L can then be attached to the cylinder D and used for shifting the latter,
and also the two pressures producible in the cylinder M can be utilised for other
purposes.
.
In cutting or punching heated as well as cold materials there is a moment at a given
point of the stroke before this is completed, when the collective molecules of the cross-
section to be divided are so far separated from each other that a tearing asunder
follows. A little while beforehand, the resistance which the already partially divided
cross-section opposes to the advancing shear-blade or puncbing tool, diminishes, until
with a sudden shock the tearing or rending above mentioned ensues. To meet this
condition, a contrivance is employed in connection with the hydraulic cylinder,
which, as the resistance of the substance to be cut diminishes, reduces by degrees the

page_text: rush of water to the cylinder, and on the occurrence of the tearing asunder shuts it
off altogether.
V
This consists of a plug or valve the construction of which can be seen on reference
to the enlarged view of the cylinder D (Fig. 12).
This valve or plug is of cylindrical shape but has four symmetrically arranged deep-
cut grooves along its sides, each tapering to a point at the upper end. It is firmly
attached to the bydraulic cylinder D; and fits in the narrow water passage of the
fixed piston of this cylinder so that during the cutting process the water is admitted
through its four grooves al to the hydraulic cylinder D.
As soon as the speed of the hydraulic cylinder D begins to increase as it approaches
the end of its stroke, owing to the diminishing resistance of the already partially
severed metal, the entrance of the water is more and more checked by the upwardly
narrowing grooves of the valve v, till at the moment of tearing or reading the
upper cylindrical portion of the valve passes into the tight-fitting passage of the
piston, whereby the entrance of the water to the hydraulic cylinder D is arrested.
In the cutting or punching of cold metals, the parting of the materials to be cut
occurs quite suddenly, and in fact considerably before the stroke is completed. In
this case a violent shock arises from the persistent pressure exerted in the cylinder D
(before even the valve v has been able to completely shut it off) without the cutting
tool meeting with any further resistance. In order to obviate this, therefore, an
artificial resistance may be interposed. This is done in the following manner: reference
being had to Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.
In these Fig. 13 is an elevation of the compressor and the cutting apparatus.
Fig. 14 is a front view of a part of the latter. Fig. 15 is an enlarged view of one of
the cushioning cylinders and Figs. 16 and 17 are detail views of the water tank
and valve.
Under the block E are inserted two pistons w and w¹, which as in Bramah's inven-
tion, are forced upon the descent of the block into two cylinders N. and N¹, and the
liquid which is therein contained is thereby forced through the narrow tube (the
cross-section of which can be controlled by means of a stop-cock) into a high level
tank.
When the instant of the sudden parting of the material to be divided occurs, the
liquid contained in the cylinders N and N₁ cannot pass fast enough through the
narrow escape channel, and in this manner it replaces the insufficient resistance of
the already severed material, thus preventing the shock which would otherwise
occur.
At the bottom of the two cylinders N and N¹, which can be connected together by means
of a tube, is inserted a further pipe y of larger diameter than the last, with a
valve z opening inwards, the pipe being carried to the bottom of the high level tank
before mentioned.
During the descent of the two pistons wo and w¹ the pipe y remains closed by the
valve z.
On the recoil this opens itself, however, and the liquid which has
been driven up to the high level tank through x flows back again into the
cylinders N and N¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In bydraulic apparatus of the class described the combination with a steam
slide valve of two steam cylinders independent of each other of which the larger
serves for the generation of power for operating a pressure block and the smaller for
lifting such block substantially as described.
2. The employment of a water tank and valve in the pipe between the hydraulic
pressure cylinder and the hydraulic cylinder of the pressure block said valve being
operated from the main distributing gear and arranged to allow of liquid passing
into and filling the piping before the pressure is applied and to cut off same when
the latter is on substantially as described,

page_text: 3. The employinent of a curved or sabre shaped lever attached to the main distri-
buting valve and operated by the movement of the pressure block for automatically
controlling said valve substantially as described.
4. The combination with the hydraulic piston o of a weighted lever adapted to
automatically regulate the main distributing gear on the rising of the pressure in the
hydraulic cylinder of the pressure block substantially as described.
5. The employment of a supplementary steam cylinder adapted to generate hydraulic
pressure in combination with a small hydraulic cylinder on the piston of which the
beam of the pressure block rests substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. The automatic regulation of the main distributing valve by the ascending steam
piston by means of a regulating pin passing through the cylinder head and connected
to said valve by means of a lever substantially as described.
7. The arrangement of apparatus whereby a series of full working strokes in the
steam cylinder are caused to produce a step by step movement of the pressure block
thus transforming a number of short steam strokes into a long operating stroke under
full hydraulic pressure substantially as described.
8. The employment of two alternately working steam cylinders in combination
with suitable distributing valves adapted to produce a continuous hydraulic pressure
substantially as described.
9. In combination with the two alternately working steam cylinders, a hydraulic
cylinder Land valves arranged to enable the water pressure to pass to three different
places substantially as and for the purpose described.
10. In combination with the pressure block two or more hydraulic cylinders
the pistons of which havo a cushioning action for said block substantially as
described.
11. In combination with the hydraulic cylinder of the pressure block a valve or
plug passing into the piston and adapted to regulate the passage of the water sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this 5th day of December 1889.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Applicant's Agent.