IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINERY
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Wilson, of Patricroft, near the City of
Manchester, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC
MACHINERY."
Sealed the 27th October 1859, and dated the 20th May 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
May 1859.
I, ROBERT WILSON, of Patricroft, near the City of Manchester, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDRAULIC MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to the hydraulic machinery employed
in squirting or forcing lead or other metal through an orifice or die in the
form of rods, tubes, sheets, or other sections. In performing this part of my
Invention, I employ a ram, to the end of which is attached a die of the form
required; the die when depressed enters a stationary cylinder containing the
lead or other metal, which exudes through the die, and is conveyed away
either through the ram, or laterally through a slot or opening in the ram.
The ram is raised and lowered by hydraulic power in the usual manner. By
this means I retain the advantages and obviate the defects of the modes.
hitherto adopted in squirting lead or other metals.
Another part of my Invention consists in the application of self-acting
apparatus to hydraulic machinery, by means whereof the acting power ceases

page_text: to increase the pressure beyond a given limit; also in apparatus by which the
sudden starting of hydraulic machinery is avoided. I make use of a single
plunger or ram of the usual construction, or of a double plunger of two
different diameters, so that the force exerted is equal to the difference in area
of the two parts of the plunger. To the plunger is attached a spring or
weight, and when the pressure on the fluid attains the limit given, the lever of
the plunger acts on the throttle valve of the engine to shut off the steam, or
otherwise disconnects or reduces the power employed. In order to prevent
the sudden starting of hydraulic machinery, I connect the lever of the ram or
plunger to a piston working in a cylinder, to which is connected a valve and
tap, commonly termed a cataract, so that when the power is required, the
lever in connection with the power can only move at the speed which the
escape of the fluid in the cylinder through the tap will permit.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WILSON, of Patricroft, near the City of Manchester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Wilson, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Wilson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Wilson, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC
MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert
Wilson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
iny, or their, or one of their 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 immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Wilson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement (that is to say):-
-
The nature of my Invention consists in an improved combination of
hydraulic machinery for squirting or forcing lead or other metal through
an orifice or die, or through orifices or dies in the form of rods, tubes, sheets,
or of any other required form or section; also in an improved mode of con-
structing the metal container employed in such machinery.
The second part of my Invention consists in the application of a self-acting
apparatus to bydraulic machinery, by means whereof the acting or motive
power ceases to increase the pressure beyond a given limit; also in applying
to hydraulic machinery an apparatus commonly called a "cataract," by means
whereof the sudden starting of such machinery is avoided.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved bydraulic machinery for
squirting or forcing lead; and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
a is the foundation plate, in which are three or other convenient number of
recesses for the tension rods b, the upper ends of which are inserted into
similar recesses in the hydraulic cylinder c, which I prefer to make with a
shell d made of brass, or other incorrodable metal; to the upper end of the
cylinder c is attached the bush e, to which is connected the pipe f, which is
in communication with a force pump of the usual construction; the pipe f' at
the lower end of the cylinder c is also in communication with a force pump.
The ram g works in the shell d of the cylinder c, and in the flange h bolted to
the under side of the cylinder; the ram g is furnished above with two cupped
leathers to prevent the escape of water; a similar cupped leather is also
applied to the upper end of the shell d, and to the flange h; to the lower end
of the ram his bolted the plunger i, furnished with the die j. The Drawing
represents a die with one opening; but I wish to remark that a die with two
or more openings, or two or more dies, may be used, thus producing two or
more rods or other articles at the same time; in the plunger i is made a
lateral slot or opening for the squirted lead or other metal to pass through.
I wish, however, to remark here, that the squirted lead or other metal may be
taken away through an opening in the centre of the ram g. To the upper
surface of the foundation plate a is fixed the stationery cylinder or metal
container k, formed of six or other convenient number of wrought iron or

page_text: other metal rings surrounding the bush k', which has a shoulder below, and
is rivetted above; the rings and the bush forming the metal container are all
turned true where they fit each other and form a solid mass of equal strength,
and at much less cost than when forged in one piece, as heretofore customary.
The bottom of the bush k is closed by a block 1, and the container is
surrounded by the flue m, by which it is heated in its place; the flue m¹ in
Fig. 2 is either in communication with a furnace, and the products of com-
bustion after passing round the container k are conveyed to a chimney through
the flue m²; or the requisite heat is supplied by a sufficient number of gas
jets placed round the container. By this means the loss of time occasioned in
removing the metal container from the machine to an oven, to be heated or
kept hot during the night, or during the time not at work, is entirely saved,
and greater accuracy in the work is attainable.
The Drawing, Fig. 1, represents the machine with the plunger i partly
down, and the metal, which is indicated by a colored line n, escaping through
the die j in the form of a cylindrical rod. When tubes or other shaped
articles are required, it is evident that a die or dies of a corresponding shape
must be attached to the plunger i. As soon as the plunger has been depressed,
until it nearly touches the block 7, the connection between the force pump and
the pipe fis shut off, and the ram
is then raised by the force pump in com-
munication with the pipe f¹. When the ram g is up, the plunger i is raised
out of the metal container k, and a fresh supply of metal is then poured into
it, and as soon as the metal has set the operation is repeated as before by
opening the taps to admit water into the cylinder c from the pipe f, and
discharge water from the pipe f'.
same.
Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of a self-acting apparatus applicable
to hydraulic machinery, to prevent the motive power increasing the pressure
beyond a given limit, and also to prevent the sudden starting of the machinery.
Fig. 4 is an end elevation, also partly in section; and Fig. 5, a plan of the
o is a foundation plate supporting the columns p, p, and the top
plate q, to which is fixed the cylinder r; s is a lever jointed to the links t, the
fulcrum of which is at t'; the other extremity of the lever s is connected to the
rod u, which is in communication with the "cataract" and with the throttle
valve or other apparatus by which the motive power is actuated. To the
levers is also jointed the upper end of the double plunger v, which passes
through the cylinder r, and through the bushes or stuffing boxes 2 and 2², the
spaces between the ends of these bushes and the cylinder being provided with
cupped leathers to prevent the escape of water or other suitable liquid used in
applying the
power. The upper part of the plunger is made of a greater

page_text: diameter than the lower part, consequently the force exerted on the plunger
by the water or other liquid which is pumped into the cylinder r through
the pipe w, see Fig. 4, is equal to the difference in area of the two parts of
the plunger; the lower part of the plunger is connected to the spring x,
which is furnished with a regulating screw a¹, by means of which the force of
the spring can be varied. The upper end of the rod u, as before stated, is
connected to the throttle valve or other apparatus by which the force pump is
actuated, and to the lower end of the rod u is attached the piston y of the
"cataract," fitting in the cylinder y¹, which is secured to the foundation plate o.
The cylinder y is placed above the chamber o', containing oil or other
suitable fluid; the ball or other valve z fits on a seating cast to the cylinder y¹,
the lower end of which is also in communication with the chamber o¹ by a
small opening, which can be closed or partially closed by the tap z¹. The
mode of operation is as follows:-The Drawing represents the various parts
of the apparatus in the positions they occupy when the pump or other acting
power is exerting the required force, and this force, as before stated, can be
determined by increasing or diminishing the tension of the spring a; as soon,
however, as the acting power is increased sufficiently to overcome the spring x,
the plunger v rises, and in so doing acts on the lever s, which being in com-
munication with the throttle valve or other apparatus by which the motive
power is actuated, thereby disconnects or reduces the power employed, at the
same time the piston y rises in the cylinder y', and the oil from the chamber o¹
passing under the valve fills up the space under the piston y.
When the
machinery is again started, the rod u can only descend slowly, as
closes as soon as the piston y has been raised, and the oil in the cylinder y¹
must re-enter the chamber o¹ through the tap 21; consequently, the sudden
starting of the machinery is prevented. I wish to remark here, that a single
plunger or ram may be used instead of the double plunger v, or a weight may
be used instead of the spring a, or a combination of weight and springs may
be applied.
the valve
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner
of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself
to the details given, as the same may be varied or modified; but what I
claim is,
First, the improved combination of hydraulic machinery, shewn and
described in reference to Figs. 1 and 2, for squirting or forcing lead or
other metal.
Secondly, the improved mode of constructing the cylinder or metal con-

page_text: tainer of machines used in squirting or forcing lead or other metal, as shewn
and described in reference to Fig. 1.
Thirdly, the application of a flue or heating jacket placed around the
.cylinder or metal container, for the purpose of heating it, as described.
Fourthly, the application of two or more openings in the same die, or of
two or more dies, to produce two or more rods or other articles at the
same time.
Fifthly, the application of self-acting apparatus to hydraulic machinery, for
.preventing the increase of the pressure beyond a given limit.
And, lastly, the application to hydraulic machinery of a "cataract," to
-prevent the sudden starting thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Wilson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
H. B. BARLOW,
Manchester.
ROBERT WILSON. (L.S.)