Improvements in Hydraulic Lifts and Cranes.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Lifts and Cranes.
J, GEORGE ANDREWS, of 14 Laurie Grove, New Cross, London, S.E., Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
cylinders and rams or jiggers, for hydraulic suspended lifts and cranes, for the
purpose of reducing and economising the consumption of water, and approximating
the same to the weight to be raised, or the force required to be exerted.
1 form the ram with varying diameters, in suitable lengths upon one common
axial line. Each portion of the ram works in a seperate cylinder, thus constituting
the apparatus a tandem hydraulic jigger, having two or more rams and cylinders of
varying diameters. Each cylinder is fitted with a stuffing box and packing or cup
leather, and a supply pipe. The pipes are in communication with suitable passages
formed in the valve box, for admission and exhaust, controlled by a single slide
valve.
The valve is actuated by an automatic apparatus, which is capable of being
regulated by a sliding weight fitted to a lever, or by a spring or equivalent device,
in a somewhat similar manner to that used in the regulation of reducing and
equilibrium valves. The lever is connected with the valve rod.
The action of the apparatus is such that, on the starting valve being opened, the
If this is sufficient to raise
water is admitted first to the smallest piston or ram.
the load, the water is not admitted to the next (larger) piston. But if the load is
too great the water is automatically admitted to the annular surface of the next
piston; and so on, until the load is lifted, the variation of the load and the pressure
of the water together operating automatically to open and close the valve.
Traand 14th Sentember 1894.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Lifts and Cranes.
1, GEORGE ANDREWS, of 14 Laurie Grove, New Cross, London, S.E., Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
cylinders and rams or jiggers, for hydraulic suspended lifts and cranes, for the
purpose of reducing and economising the consumption of water, and approximating
the same to the weight to be raised, or the force required to be exerted.
I form the ram with varying diameters, in suitable lengths, upon one common
axial line. Each portion of the ram works in a separate cylinder, thus constituting
the apparatus a tandem hydraulic jigger, having two or more rams and cylinders
of varying diameters. Each cylinder is fitted with a stuffing box and packing or
cup leather, and a supply pipe. The pipes are in communication with suitable

page_text: passages formed in the valve box, for admission and exhaust, controlled by a single
slide valve.
?
The valve is actuated by an automatic apparatus, which is capable of being
regulated by a sliding weight' fitted to a lever, or by a spring or equivalent device,
in a somewhat similar manner to that used in the regulation of reducing and
equilibrium valves. The lever is connected with the valve rod.
The action of the apparatus is such that, on the starting valve being opened,
the water is admitted first to the smallest piston or ram. If this is sufficient to
raise the load, the water is not admitted to the next (larger) piston. But if the
load is too great the water is automatically admitted to the annular surface of the
next piston; and so on, until the load is lifted, the variation of the load and
the pressure of the water together operating automatically to open and close the
valve.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
་ ་
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 1A is a continuation of the lower part of
Fig. 1, illustrating the main features of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the arrangement of the ports,
valves, and other parts of the mechanism for obtaining automatic action.
Fig. 3 is a plan view showing details of mechanism for working the valves."
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on the line a b of Fig. 3, showing details of the
arrangement of working the trip valves alternately, with the locking arrangements
for the regulating-valve spindle.
***
Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, showing another method of communi-
cating the power to the wheel 11, to avoid bringing 'the ropes below the cylinders.
6, 7 and 8, are three tandem rams or pistons, formed to move simultaneously, the
ram 8 being fitted with the ram-head 9 carrying the lower pulley wheel or
wheels 10. The upper pulley wheel or wheels 11 is or are mounted upon the
cover of the cylinder 12; or the wheel 11 may be carried by a förked cross-head 17
attached to a piston rod 16 fitted to the ram 6, as shown in Fig. 5, the cylinder
cover being fitted with a stuffing box 15 for that purpose.
14
:
'
12, 13 and 14 are the cylinders in which the rams 6, 7 and 8 work. The stuffing
boxes to the cylinders are fitted with ordinary glands 18, as shown in Fig. 1, and,
in addition thereto, the lower ends of the cylinders 12 and 13 are constructed to
act as glands to compress the packing, as also shown at 19 in Fig. 1; the
compression being effected by means of bolts 20.
Each cylinder has a separate supply pipe; the pipe 21 leading to the cylinder 12,
22 to the cylinder 13, and 23 to the cylinder 14. 24 is an ordinary starting valve
operated by the lever 25. 26 is the supply pipe from the accumulator or pressure
main.
In Fig. 2, 27 is a slide valve. 28 is a port leading to the cylinder 13. 29 is a
port leading to the cylinder 14. 30 is the exhaust port, 30" is the exhaust pipe,
and 31 is the supply or pressure port. The valve 27 is held to its face by the
pressure of water in the valve box 40.
;
.
On the cover of the valve box 40 two double seated trip valves 32 and 33 are
fitted the valve 32 is shown in Fig. 2, the valve 33 being similarly constructed.
36 is a cylinder fitted with a piston, the piston rod 41 passing out at both ends
of the cylinder. 34 is a lever having its fulcrum at 35. The piston rod 41 is
linked to the lever 34 at 37, and the rod 38 of the valve 27 is linked to the same
lever 34 at 39. The trip valve 32 controls the passage of water to one end of the
cylinder 36 by the pipe 42, and the trip valve 33 controls the passage of water to
the other end of the cylinder by the pipe 43.
Fig. 4 shows the arrangement by which the motion is obtained for working the
trip valves alternately.
When the starting valve 24 is opened to lift the load, water under pressure
passes, by the pipe 21, to the cylinder 12. If the area of the ram 6 is sufficient to

page_text: lift the load, the valve 27 becomes locked, remaining stationary, and the load may
be lowered by reversing the valve 24 in the usual manner, the. eduction water
passing away from the cylinder 12 by the pipe 21 to and through the exhaust
pipe 30º.
If the area of the ram 6 is insufficient to lift the load the following movements
take place :-Water under pressure having passed to one end of the cylinder 36 by
the pipe 42, and the other end of the same cylinder being open to the exhaust,
through the pipe 43 and trip valve 33 to the pipe 30, the piston in 36 then drives
the lever 34 outwards, and thereby uncovers the port 28. If the combined areas.
of the rams 6 and 7 are sufficient to raise the load, the valve, becomes locked by
the action of the chain 46; but if the rams 6 and 7 are insufficient to raise the load
the valve 27 opens also the port 29 leading to the cylinder 14....
44, 45, are two sprocket or other wheels or pulleys, carrying an,, endless, pitch
chain or rope 46, the wheel 44 being fitted to the flange of the cylinder 14, and
the wheel 45 being attached to a frame in connection with the gear which opens
and closes the trip valves. The trip valves are in connection, with a balanced,
double-ended, lever 47, so arranged that when one valve opens the other closes.
:
One side of the chain or rope 46 is connected to a. snug 48 attached to the ram-
head 9, by which means that side of the chain or rope 46 is carried up and down
with the ram head, causing the rotation of the wheel 45 (and with it the pinion 49)
to follow the movements of the chain. The rotation of the wheel 45, running loose
on the axle 55, (by means of the pinion 49) moves the toothed rack or carrier 50
to the right or left, its rotation keeping the rack either at one end or the other of
the bar 51. A spiral spring is fitted round each end of the bar 51 to assist in
starting the rack and bringing it into gear. 52 is a quadrant, the upper arm of
which is fast on the axle 55, and the lower end having slot in which the pin 53
(attached to the carrier 50) works, carrying the lower end of the quadrant
therewith. The quadrant 52 operates upon the tappet bar so as to open and close
the trip valves 32 and 33 alternately, by means of the bar 55, to which bar the
valve lever 47 is made fast. At one end of the valve rod 38 grooves 56 are
provided, whereby the lock 54 (shown separately in Fig. 4) locks the valve in
position. The spring 62 assists in lifting the lock 54 when allowed by the action
of the quadrant, as shown in Fig. 4, in which position the valve 27 is free to move.
When the starting valve 24 is moved for the purpose of stopping the lift, the
water is shut off from the port 31, and the lift comes to rest, and when the starting
valve 24 is opened to the exhaust by the pipe 30º, the lift descends and the ram
ascends, taking with it the pitch chain 46. The motion being thus reversed, the
rack or carrier 50 and quadrant 52 are driven in an opposite direction, at the same
time releasing the lock 54 which is forced up out of the groove of the valve rod
by the lever 57. This lever 57 is in connection with a plunger fitted to a pressure
cylinder 58 connected with the pressure pipe at 59, and having a weight 60 attached
thereto; the lever 57 having its fulcrum at 61. When the starting valve is open
to the exhaust, the plunger in 58 drops, in consequence of the reduced pressure,
and at the same time the short end of the lever 57 rises, lifting the lock 54, and
assisting in reversing the trip valve lever by means of a connecting rod 63 attached
to an arm 64 (shown by dotted lines) attached to the axle 55.
The ordinary balances being in excess of the weight of the rams, on opening the
exhaust by the lever 25, the pressure is released from the ram 6. The reduction of
pressure allows the piston in 58 to descend, thereby unlocking the valve by lifting
the locking bar 54 and reversing the trip valve lever. The water under pressure
then passes through the pipe 43 to the cylinder 36, the eduction passing out by the
trip valve 32 to the pipe 30 (Fig. 2) whereby the valve 27 is returned to the
position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the passages 28 and 29 are shown open to
the exhaust port 30, whereby the rams are free to ascend to the position shown
in Fig. 1.
I preferred a cylindrical slide vaive may be used instead of the vertical cylinder
and plunger 58.

page_text: Although I have described and illustrated the application of my invention to
three tandem cylinders and plungers, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine my invention thereto, as a greater or less number may be used, the valves
and other gear being modified accordingly.
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. The improvements in hydraulic lifts and cranes substantially as and for the
purposes described.
2. In hydraulic lifts and cranes the combination of tandem plungers of varying
diameters working in corresponding cylinders, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. In tandem hydraulic lifts and cranes as aforesaid the combination therewith
of trip valves operated by means of a chain or rope 46, attached to the ram head;
sprocket or other wheels 44, 45; spur or plain wheel 49 operating with a toothed
rack or plain carrier 50; quadrant 52; lock 54 operated by a lever 57; and the
several other means and appliances in connection therewith, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. In combination with tandem hydraulic lifts and cranes as aforesaid the
improved method of operating the valves substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 14th June 1895.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.