IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PUMPS AND PRESSES FOR PACKING COTTON AND OTHER ARTICLES OF THE LIKE NATURE
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Nasmyth and Robert Wilson, both of Patri-
croft, near the City of Manchester, Engineers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PUMPS AND PRESSES FOR PACKING COTTON
AND OTHER ARTICLES OF THE LIKE NATURE."
Sealed the 21st April 1857, and dated the 3rd November 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Nasmyth and
Robert Wilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 3rd November 1856.
We, JAMES NASMYTH and ROBERT WILSON, both of Patricroft, near the
City of Manchester, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIO PUMPS AND PRESSES FOR PACKING
COTTON AND OTHER ARTICLES OF THE LIKE NATURE," to be as follows:-
In hydraulic presses of the usual construction only one cylinder and ram
have been employed, and the follower, by which the cotton or other article of
the like nature is compressed, being connected to the ram in the centre,
frequently broken by the great pressure required to be exerted for giving the
final compression.
The first part of our Invention consists in the application of two or more
cylinders and rams to such presses, whereby the pressure on the follower is
distributed at two or more points, and consequently the liability of breaking
the follower is greatly reduced. By the application of two or more cylinders
and rams a larger area can be more conveniently obtained for the action of
the hydraulic power than when only one ram is employed, as heretofore, and
consequently more pressure- can be given to the cotton or other material of
the like nature.
The second part of our Invention consists in the application of a direct-

page_text: action reciprocating pump for working hydraulic presses. A steam cylinder
provided with a piston and piston rod is placed between two pumps, the
plungers of which are prolongations of the piston rod, so that as the piston
moves to and fro in the cylinder (by the application of steam) both the
plungers and pumps are worked. A connecting rod may be applied to the
piston rod, to give rotary motion to a fly wheel. to assist the piston in reversing
the direction of its motion.
x
The third part of our Invention consists in the application of two or more
of the above-described direct-action reciprocating pumps to work hydraulic
presses. Each pair of plungers of these two or more pumps are of different
diameters, and the pipes are all connected to the cylinder or cylinders of the
press. In commencing the operation of pressing all the pumps are set in
motion and the follower-of-the-press-is-raised-rapidly owing to the. large
quantity of water pumped and the-little-resistance of the material to be com-
pressed. As soon as the resistance of the material increases sufficiently to
overcome the force of the largest pair of pumps it ceases of itself to pump
water. the other pumps remain at work, and the follower continues to rise by
the combined action of the remaining pumps until the resistance of the
follower becomes greater than the force exerted by the next largest 'pair of
pumps, that pair of pumps then ceases in like manner to work, and this 'mode
of operation continues until the final compression is given by the smallest pair
of pumps. The same sets of direct-action reciprocating pumps may be con-
nected to several hydraulic presses.
Our Invention also consists in the application of receivers for collecting
water under pressure, to be used as a reserve supply for hydraulic presses
employed in packing cotton or other articles of the like nature. We propose,
when the presses are not at work, to convey the water from the pumps into
vessels having loaded plungers, whose diameters or load are in proportion to
the resistance successively to be overcome, which vessels are for this purpose
connected by pipes to the cylinders of the presses.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Nasmyth and Robert Wilson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 2nd May 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
NASMYTH and ROBERT WILSON, both of Patricroft, near the City of Manchester,
Engineers, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
James Nasmyth and Robert Wilson, Her special license that we, the said
James Nasmyth and Robert Wilson, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said James Nasmyth and Robert Wilson,
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC
PUMPS AND PRESSES FOR PACKING COTTON AND OTHER ARTICLES OP THE LIKE
NATURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Nasmyth
and Robert Wilson, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our or their, or one of our or their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 James Nasymth and Robert Wilson,
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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
In hydraulic presses of the usual construction only one cylinder and ram
have been employed, and the follower, by which the cotton or other article of
the like nature is compressed, being connected to the ran in the centre, is
frequently broken by the great pressure required to be exerted for giving the
final compression.
The first part of our Invention consists in the application of two or more
cylinders and rams to such presses, whereby the pressure on the follower is
distributed at two or more points, and consequently the liability of breaking
the follower is greatly reduced. 'By the application of two or more cylinders
and rams a larger area can be more conveniently obtained for the action of
the hydraulic power than when only one ram is employed, as heretofore, and
consequently more pressure can be given to the cotton or other material of
the like nature.
The second part of our Invention consists in the application of a direct-

page_text: action reciprocating pump for working hydraulic presses. A steam cylinder
provided with a piston and piston rod is placed between a pair or pairs of
pumps, the plungers of which are as it were prolongations of the piston rod,
so that as the piston moves to and fro in the cylinder (by the application of
steam) both the plungers and pumps are worked. A connecting rod may be
applied to the piston rod, to give rotary motion to a fly wheel. to assist the
piston in reversing the direction of its motion.
The third part of our Invention consists in the application of two or more
of the above-described direct-action reciprocating pumps in work hydraulic
presses. Each set of plungers of these two or more pumps are of different
diameters, and the pipes are all connected to the cylinder or cylinders of the
press. In commencing the operation of pressing all the pumps may be set in
-motion-and-the-follower_of_the_press_raised rapidly, owing to the large
quantity of water pumped and the little resistance of the material to be com-
pressed. As soon as the density and consequent resistance of the material
increases sufficiently to balance the force of the largest set of pumps they
cease of themselves to pump water into the press, the other pumps remaining
at work, and the follower continuing to rise by the combined action of the
remaining pumps until the resistance of the follower becomes greater than the
force exerted by the next largest set of pumps, that set of pumps then ceases
in like manner to work into the press, and this mode of operation continues
until the final compression is given by the smallest set of pumps. The same
sets of direct-action reciprocating pumps may be connected to several hydraulic
presses.
Our Invention also consists in the application of receivers for collecting
water under pressure, to be used as a reserve or direct supply for hydraulic
presses employed in pressing cotton or other articles of the like nature. We
propose, when the presses are not at work. to convey the water from the
pumps into vessels having loaded plungers, whose diameters or load are
in proportion to the resistance successively to be overcome, which vessels
are for this purpose connected by pipes to the cylinders of the presses.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect, we will now proceed to describe the several illustrative
Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings appended hereunto.
Figure is a side elevation of our improved hydraulic press, which is
furnished with two cylinders and two rams, and is particularly adapted
for compressing cotton or other articles of the like nature; Figure 2 is
a transverse section, and Figure 3 a plan, also in section, of the same.
The cylinders a, a, are each provided with a ram b; these rams are fixed

page_text: in the follower c, consequently the pressure on the follower is distributed
more evenly than when only one ram is employed; by this means the liability
of breaking the follower is greatly reduced. The other parts of the press are
clearly shewn in the Drawing, and as they may be constructed in any approved
manner, according to the purpose for which the press is intended, they do not
require to be particularly described.
Although we have shewn our improved press with two cylinders and rams,
we wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves thereto, as three or
more rams may be connected to the same follower, for the purpose of more
evenly distributing the pressure.
By the application of two or more cylinders and rams a larger area can
be more conveniently obtained for the action of the hydraulic power than when
only one ram is employed, consequently more pressure can be given to the
cotton or other material of the like nature to be compressed.
Figure 1 is an elevation of our direct-action reciprocating pump for working
hydraulic presses, and Figure 5 a plan of the same. The steam cylinder d is
provided with a piston of the usual construction attached to the piston rod e,
the prolongations of which are the plungers, 1, working in the pump barrels
g, g. The crosshead his fixed to the piston rod e, and the two connecting rods i
reach from the crosshead to the crank pins fixed in the fly wheels j. Steam
is admitted alternately at each end of the cylinder d, as in steam engines of
the usual construction, thereby working the piston to and fro in the cylinder,
and imparting the requisite motion to the plungers for pumping, the rotary
motion of the fly wheels assisting the piston in reversing the direction of its
motion.
The third part of our Invention consists in the application of two or more
of the above-described direct-action reciprocating pumps to work hydraulic
presses. Each pair of plungers of these two or more pumps may be of different
diameters, and the pipes all connected to the cylinder or cylinders of the press.
In commencing the operation of pressing, all the pumps may be set in motion
and the follower of the press raised rapidly, owing to the large quantity of
water pumped and the little resistance of the material to be compressed. As
soon as the density and consequent resistance of the material increases sufli-
ciently to balance the force of the largest or lowest pressure set of pumps,
their action ceases or forces the water into their respective receiver or re-
ceivers, herein-after described, the other pumps remaining at work, and the
follower continuing to rise by the combined action of the remaining pumps.
until the resistance of the follower becomes equal to the force exerted by the
next largest set of pumps, which then ceases to act, or the water is then forced

page_text: into their respective receiver or receivers, and this mode of operation con-
tinues until the final compression is given by the smallest set of pumps. The
same sets of direct-action reciprocating pumps may be connected to several
hydraulic presses and receivers.
Figure 6 is a section, and Figure 7 a plan, of a set of receivers for collecting
water under pressure, to be used as a reserve or direct supply for hydraulic
presses employed in packing cotton and other materials of the, like nature.
The receiver.m is furnished with a plunger n, which is loaded, by means of the
crosshead o, suspending rods p, bottom ring q, and weights r, which may be of
any heavy material. The crosshead o is guided in the grooved rails s lo
preserve the parallellism of the plunger in the receiver. The receiver m¹ is
furnished with a plunger n', the diameter of which is somewhat greater than
that of the plunger n. Other receivers and plungers of the same progressively
greater diameters may be used in combination with the two shewn in the
Drawing. The plungers are all supposed to be, loaded with equal weights, but
as the plungers may all be different diameters, it is evident that the pressure
on the water in each receiver will vary in inverse proportion to the diameter of
the plunger. The mode of operation is as follows: The Drawing represents
the plungers at the bottom of the, receivers, and the weights by which they
are all loaded bearing on the floor. Each receiver is, provided with. a, pipe or
opening to admit the water from the hydraulic pumps, which may be of the
description shewn in Figures 4 and 5, or of the ordinary construction, which
pipe may also be the outlet pipe, and provided with a valve or cock, to
open or shut at pleasure, connected with the cylinder or cylinders of the
press.
As soon as the pumps are set to work, if the valve or cock is closed and the
communication cut off from the press the action of the water on their re-
spective plungers causes them to rise in their receivers until the said receivers
are full of water. These receivers are so constructed, that when full they will
either stop the pumps, or allow the surplus water to escape through an opening
or by an escape valve. When all the plungers are raised and the receivers
are filled with water under pressure, the communication between the largest
receiver and the cylinder or cylinders of the hydraulic press is opened. The
action of this water raises the ram of the said cylinder or cylinders, until the
resistance of the cotton or other articles of the like nature so compressed
balances the pressure on the water; the communication between this receiver
and the cylinder or cylinders is then closed by hand, or by means of a self-
acting valve, and the water in the next receiver is admitted to the cylinder or
cylinders in like manner, and so on with the others of greater pressure, until

page_text: the final compression is given by the smallest of the series of plungers. It is
evident that the same result may be obtained by varying the load on plungers
of the same diameter, and that the same set of receivers may be connected by
pipes to the rams of two or more hydraulic presses; or a set of receivers con-
taining water at the same pressure may be employed, provided the pressure is
sufficiently great to impart the final compression to the collon or other material
to be compressed. When the stuffing box or packings of the plungers require
to be examined or repaired, the nuts are removed from the rods p, the cross
head o can then be lifted up to give easy access to the parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same may be performed, we would
observe, in conclusion, that we do not confine or limit ourselves to the
precise details described and referred to, as many variations may be made
therein without deviating from the peculiar character of our said Invention;
but what we consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the In-
vention secured to us by the herein-before in part reciting Letters Patent,
is,―
First, the application of two or more rams acting on the follower of an
hydraulic press. as shewn and described in reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Secondly, the direct-action reciprocating pump. as shewn and described in
reference to Figures 4 and 5.
Thirdly, the application of two or more direct-action reciprocating pumps
acting in combination or in succession on the rams of hydraulic presses or into
receivers with loaded rams, as herein-before described.
And. fourthly, the system or mode of working hydraulic presses for packing
cotton or other materials of the like nature by water under pressure and
contained in receivers, as shewn and described in reference to Figures 6 and 7.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Wilson, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
ROBERT WILSON. (L.S.)