IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY FOR OIL MILLS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Whitham, of Perseverance Iron Works, Leeds, in the
County of York, Iron Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MACHINERY FOR OIL MILLS."
Sealed the 7th January 1879, and dated the 13th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Whitham at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th July 1878.
JAMES WHITHAM, of Perseverance Iron Works, Leeds, in the County of York,
Iron Manufacturer. ." IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY FOR OIL MILLS."
This Invention relates to an improved method of constructing the press plates
used in hydraulic presses for the manufacture of oil seeds.
The improvements particularly belong to those presses where the seed is placed
in boxes or spaces of small dimensions and in considerable number, and known to
the trade as Anglo-American presses.
Hitherto the said press plates have been formed by casting plates in brass, iron,
steel, or other metal from models having the necessary grooves, recesses, corrugations,
and devices engraved upon them, or by casting the same in parts and fastening
them to intermediate plates, or by cutting or engraving the recesses, corrugations,
and devices out of each plate.
The improvement consists in engraving, cutting, and forming the necessary
recesses, corrugations, and devices once for all upon a pair of rollers. The rollers
are mounted in strong frames, and connected to each other by wheels and other
suitable attachments. Slabs or blocks of iron or steel are prepared, and while in'a
heated and ductile condition are passed between the rollers, and receive the exact
impression of the corrugations, recesses, grooves, and devices engraved upon them,
By this process the plates are exact counterparts of each other; the cost of manu-
facture is reduced, while the strength and efficiency is increased.

page_text: It is necessary, in order that the finished bar or plate shall leave the rolls in a
straight and even condition, that the diameters of the rolls vary a little one from
the other. The number of the corrugations or ridges and recesses engraved on the
surfaces of each roll must be exactly alike, and although, notwithstanding that the
distance of each ridge or corrugation will differ in pitch in one roll from the other
by this mode of construction, it will be found that the bar or plate when finished
has the recesses or corrugations very nearly alike and at equal distances on each of
its surfaces.
The surfaces of the right-hand or finishing part of the rolls, Figures 2, 3, and 4,
are carefully cut, engraved, and formed with the whole of the recesses, corrugations,
channels, and devices desired to be imprinted upon the press plates. The plates so
produced are afterwards cut into the desired lengths to fit the press for which they
are intended.
Trade marks or other distinguishing or ornamental devices may also be formed
and engraved upon the rolls, and may thus be inexpensively engraved or impressed
upon any number of press plates while in a heated and ductile condition.
It will be seen that whereas the press plates for Anglo-American presses have
hitherto been formed by casting plates of iron or other material, and afterwards
attaching them to one another or to other plates to make the shape required; and
whereas the materials so cast are generally brittle and liable to break, by my In-
_vention the plates-arc-manufactured quickly and inexpensively, all in one piece,
and of ductile and elastic material, and which will bear bending and distortion
without breaking.
.
Having now particularly described the nature and practical method of carrying
out my Invention, I desire it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise shape or contour of the plate shown, nor do I claim as part of my Invention
the portions of the rollers which first form the slab of iron or other material into
shape; but what I do claim as my Invention is, the construction, engraving, and
preparing a pair of rolls with projections, recesses, and devices upon their surfaces,
for the purpose of making press plates, such that when manufactured they may
have both surfaces imprinted with the necessary projections, recesses, and devices,
as and for the purposes before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Whitham, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.