Improvements in Hydraulic Machines for Automatically Regulating the Supply and Return of the Power Water, specially applicable to Hydraulic Lifts.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Machines for Automatically Regulating
the Supply and Return of the Power Water, specially applicable
to Hydraulic Lifts.
I, GEORGE SMITH DUNCAN, of Melbourne Chambers, Little Collins Street,
Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention is applicable to various classes of hydraulic machinery, but
specially to lifts and presses, and it has been devised for the purpose of reducing
the quantity of power water required for operating such machinery.
It accomplishes this object partly by automatically regulating the use of the
power water according to the load to be raised or other work to be done; and
partly by automatically returning a part of the water either into the pressure main
or else into an accumulator at each stroke of the lift or other machine according to
the weight of the descending load.
My invention consists in a hydraulic lift or other hydraulic machine having
apparatus inserted between the power water main and the main ram cylinder
whereby the supply of power water may be automatically regulated according to
the load to be raised or other work to be done. It also consists in a lift, press, or
other hydraulic machine having apparatus connected with the main ram cylinder
and arranged to force a certain proportion of water either back into the main or
else into an accumulator or other contrivance, the amount of such returned water
being automatically varied by the weight of the descending load.
One form of the automatic contrivances above referred to, which are more
especially adapted for use with hydraulic lifts consists of a series of cylinders fitted
with rams or pistons of varying area, the largest of said cylinders (that is, the one
in which the main piston works) being connected directly to the ram cylinder whilst
each of the other cylinders is connected by a pipe with a multiple valve or series of
valves which are automatically turned on and off in accordance with the increase
or decrease of pressure in the main ram cylinder. This automatic cut-off action
may be accomplished by means of a piston working inside a cylinder which is con-
nected at one end with said ram cylinder and has an adjustable spiral spring
arranged between its head and the said piston. The rod of this latter is connected
to a rock shaft provided with a series of cams or other mechanical contrivances
adapted to operate each upon the spindle of one of said valves in such a manner as
that when the pressure in the ram cylinder increases by reason of a heavier load
being in the cage, the spring behind the piston just mentioned will be compressed
to a certain extent in accordance with said increased weight, and the rock shaft
with which said piston is connected will be turned to such an extent as to open the
valve which supplies pressure water to the cylinder whose ram or piston is of
sufficient area to enable it to raise the load in the cage.
I prefer to construct and arrange the cylinders, pistons and rams hereinbefore
referred to somewhat after the fashion of an intensifier. The main cylinder of
this form of my improved water saving contrivance is made of sufficient area to
contain the whole of the water in the ram cylinder, and is fitted with a piston to
which is rigidly connected a rod which passes through a stuffing box in the cover
of said cylinder, and into a second and smaller cylinder which is rigidly secured in
position either upon or alongside the first one. Inside this second cylinder is a
piston which is rigidly connected to said rod and whose area is the same as said
second cylinder, and therefore smaller than the area of the first-mentioned or main
niston

page_text: This second piston is provided with a plunger, which passes up into the body of
a third cylinder, and whose area is less than that of said piston, thereby enabling
the pressure of water in the main ram cylinder to be correspondingly reduced.
With this construction I employ three valves, which are connected, one to the
main cylinder, another to the second cylinder, and another to the third cylinder.
The different areas of these various cylinders, pistons and plungers may be varied
to any desired extent, but with a pressure of say 700 lbs. to the square inch of
pressure water I propose to so construct them as that they automatically give say
either 250, 350, 450, 550, 650, or 800 lbs. pressure to the square inch on the lift
ram, according to the load to be raised, it being obvious that said valves can be so
arranged as to put either one, two or more of said cylinders into connection with
the main ram cylinder.
A modification of the foregoing arrangement which is suitable for use in con-
nection with low pressure lifts, consists in the employment of a series of tanks
arranged at varying levels, and connected by a pipe with each of the automatically
operated valves hereinbefore mentioned, so that in the event of the load to be raised
being heavy the uppermost of said cisterns will be automatically put in com-
munication with the valves, and vice-versa if the weight to be raised is small the
lowest cistern will be employed.
In connection with this arrangement a water raising piston and cylinder may
be connected with the main ram cylinder, and be arranged to return a certain
portion of the water to one or other of the different cisterns just mentioned
according to the weight of the descending load, it being obvious that suitable
retaining valves must be employed to ensure the water entering said cisterns until
each of them is full.
The sliding piston which is used to automatically operate the different valves
herein before mentioned according to the pressure of water in the ram cylinder is
preferably connected by a flexible chain with a vertically sliding weight, which is
so arranged as to come into contact with a spiral spring in the event of the pressure
being sufficient to raise said weight far enough.
In order that a certain proportion of the water in the ram cylinder may be either
returned to the main, forced into an accumulator, or otherwise saved, I connect my
invention with a similar valve-operating mechanism to that above described on the
opposite side of the different cylinders and arrange said valves so that they will be
opened in a corresponding manner by the pressure of water in the ram cylinder,
and thereby allow a certain proportion of the water to be either returned to the
main forced into an accumulator or be otherwise saved.
It will be obvious to all persons skilled in the art to which my invention relates
that the above described contrivances can be modified in many respects without
departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance as has already been hinted,
a multiple way valve may be employed in lieu of several separate ones to direct the
water from the main into the different pressure reducing cylinders according to the
power required, whilst other contrivances for automatically operating said valve or
valves according to the load in the cage or the work to be done, may be used instead
of the cylinder fitted with a piston and coiled spring and placed in communication
with the main ram cylinder of the lift or other hydraulic machine so as to be
operated by the pressure therein. For instance, a weighted plunger might be used
instead of said spring piston, or an elastic diaphragm or weighted expansible
bellows arrangement might be used. Again, the same result might be accom-
plished although not so conveniently by suspending the cage of the lift from a
weighted lever, spring balance, or other contrivance influenced by the weight in
said cage, it being obvious that the variable motion thereby imparted to said
contrivance can readily be communicated to the valve or valves herein before
mentioned.
Moreover the various pressure reducing cylinders above referred to into which
the power water is directed by the valve or valves just mentioned may be arranged
in many different ways, whilst their numbers may be increased or decreased at will.

page_text: For instance, I can use, say, one large cylinder communicating with the main ram
cylinder, and having a number of smaller cylinders of various sizes fitted upon its
cover and connected each with one of said valves, or other convenient forms of
pressure reducing contrivances may be utilised if preferred, it being understood that
according to my invention I provide a valve or valves which automatically connect
the power water main with one or other of said contrivances according to the load
in the cage, or other work to be done.
Dated this Eleventh day of November One thousand eight hundred and ninety.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Machines for Automatically Regulating
the Supply and Return of the Power Water, specially applicable
to Hydraulic Lifts.
I, GEORGE SMITH DUNCAN, of Melbourne Chambers, Little Collins Street,
Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Civil Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to almost all classes of hydraulic machinery, and is more
especially applicable to lifts and presses which are operated by water under a high
pressure.
Its object is to reduce the quantity of power water required for operating
hydraulic machinery, and it accomplishes this object partly by automatically
regulating the amount of power water used according to the load to be raised or
work to be done, and partly by automatically returning a certain proportion of
water into either the pressure main or into an accumulator, according to the weight
of the descending load.
It consists in the combination with the main operating cylinder of a hydraulic
machine of two or more cylinders of varying area (which I shall hereinafter refer
to as governing cylinders), connected-one with said main operating cylinder, and
the other or others with a multiple valve or valves connected with apparatus such
as is hereinafter described whereby they are automatically opened or closed
according to the pressure in said main operating cylinder, so as to admit the power
water into one or other of said governing cylinders according to the pressure in
said operating cylinder-that is, according to the weight on the ram or the work to
be done.
It likewise consists in the combination with the two or more different sized
governing cylinders, which as above mentioned are according to this invention
connected to the main operating cylinder of the hydraulic machine, of a multiple
valve or valves connected with an apparatus such as hereinafter described whereby
said valve or valves are automatically operated by the pressure in said main
operating cylinder so as to open communication between said governing cylinders
and either the hydraulic main or an accumulator or accumulators, in order that a
certain proportion of water may be returned from one or more of said governing
cylinders either into the main or into said accumulator according to the pressure in
the main operating cylinder-that is, according to the weight of the descending
load.
Having now briefly described and ascertained the main features of my invention,
I will proceed to describe the same more particularly, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, wherein :
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a complete set of my improved means for auto-

page_text: matically regulating the amount of power water used in hydraulic machinery
according to the weight to be raised or work done, and for automatically returning
a certain proportion of water either to the main or else into an accumulator,
according to the weight of the descending load.
Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2, 2, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but illustrating a simpler form of my
invention, such as I prefer to employ in connection with comparatively low
pressure lifts.
Fig. 4 illustates a modification of my invention, which is adapted for use where
the lift is operated by water stored in tanks at various altitudes.
Fig. 5 is a plan illustrating the construction of the mechanism which I employ
for operating the different valves, in order to allow the pressure water to flow into
the various-sized cylinders, according to the power required.
Fig. 6 is a vertical section of said mechanism on line 6, 6, Fig. 5; whilst
Fig. 7 is a front elevation thereof and
Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 8, 8, Fig. 5.
Fig. 9 is a detached side elevation of one of the parts of said mechanism.
Fig. 94 is a similar view of another form of the same part, showing its con-
struction when required to open the valve connected with it more than once in the
one operation.'
Fig. 10 is a similar view of the same detail, but illustrating a modification
thereof; and
Fig. 11 is an end elevation thereof.
Fig. 12 is a side elevation of yet another detail; and
Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus which has been devised for
the purpose of compensating for any reduction in the pressure of the power
water.
Fig. 14 is a detached view of part of my invention, illustrating the application
thereto of a contrivance for automatically opening one or more of the governing
valves in the event of the weight of the cage being rendered inoperative by reason
of its being supported upon the floor of the lift well; whilst
Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of another application of my invention,
illustrating it as operated by the pull of the haulage rope.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the
figures.
A represents the main ram cylinder of the lift, and A' the ram working therein;
whilst B represents a cylinder connected with said ram cylinder A, and of sufficient
capacity to contain enough oil or water to entirely fill the said ram cylinder.
Inside this cylinder B works a piston b formed with an upwardly-projecting
plunger, fitted at its upper end with a smaller piston c, working inside a second
cylinder C. This said smaller piston c is likewise provided with an upwardly-
projecting plunger d, which projects up into the smallest cylinder D of the series.
Stuffing boxes 6 c' d' are provided for the plungers d to work through.
The upper ends of the cylinders B CD are each connected by a separate
pipe ef*g*, with a stop valve E F G as clearly illustrated.
The different areas of the pistons b c and ram d may be varied to any desired
extent. For instance, with a pressure of, say, 700 lbs. to the square inch of power
water, I may so construct them as that they automatically give a choice of say
either 250 lbs., 350 lbs., 450 lbs., 550 lbs., 650 lbs. or 800 lbs. pressure to the square
inch on the left ram, it being obvious that, if desired, one or more of said
valves E F G can be opened at the same time, so as to put a corresponding number
of said cylinders in communication with the power water supply.
The spindles e f g of the valves E F G extend upwardly through stuffing boxes
in the casings of said valves, and are formed each with a collar e¹¹ gl near the
upper ends, and they may be weighted, or if preferred a weighted arm e f g t
(Figs. 5, 6 and 7) may be arranged to bear upon their upper ends with any force

page_text: required to keep the valves normally closed. Small pivoted trip levers e³ ³ ³
project underneath and engage each with one of the collars e¹g on the valve
spindles efg, whilst with each of said pivoted trip levers engages one of a series of
pawls cams or catches e f g which are mounted upon a rock shaft h; upon this
latter is a short crank arm connected by a rod with a piston or plunger
working in a small cylinder H. This cylinder is in communication through a small
pipe with the interior of either the cylinder B or the cylinder A it being
obviously immaterial which because both of said cylinders are, as above mentioned,
in open communication one with the other, and therefore the pressure in the one is
always the same as in the other. The pressure of water in the cylinder B or main
operating cylinder A tends to force the plunger or piston up against the
resistance of a spring whose pressure can be regulated at will in order to
determine the pressure required for opening the valves E F G. I represents the
power water supply main, or a pipe leading therefrom, and J the exhaust pipe
leading into an overhead tank or other storage reservoir K. This power water
main I and exhaust pipe J are each fitted with a stop valve i j connected together
by some suitable contrivance which will ensure them working alternately so that when
one is opened the other will be shut. Said valves may be operated by a rod-chain
or rope passing through the cage of the lift and therefore under the control of the
attendant in the ordinary manner.
In order that a certain amount of water, proportionate to the load, may be
either returned to the power water main or else be forced into an accumulator, the
cylinders B C D are connected with the valves L M N whose spindles are
operated by an apparatus which is similar to that in which the spindles of the
valves E F G are connected. By this means said valves may be automatically
closed, according to the pressure of water contained in the operating cylinder Ŏ
whose functions and construction are similar to that of the cylinder H above
described. This cylinder O is in open communication with the lower part of the
cylinder B by a pipe o corresponding to the pipe /*.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-
Assuming for instance that it is required to raise the cage of the lift with the
attendant in it, or with perhaps the attendant and only one light passenger, then
I employ the small governing cylinder D-that is the strength of the spring 4 is
so proportioned that the plunger or piston ³ will be raised sufficiently by the
pressure of water in the cylinders A and B to cause it to turn the rock shaft /
enough to cause the pawl or cam to open the valve G through the medium of
the small rocking lever and collar g', the effect being to open communication
between the pressure main I and the cylinder D as soon as the stop valve i is
opened by the lift attendant in the ordinary manner. The power water will then
be free to flow from the power main I through the valve G, along the pipe * into
said cylinder D when it will force down the ram d and pistons cb and will thereby
force the water or oil out of the cylinder B into the ram cylinder A and thus lift
the cage.
Meanwhile the cylinder C and the upper part of the cylinder B will fill
up with slack water from the tank K through the pipe & which is provided with
retention valves kas illustrated in Fig. 1 in order to prevent the water from
being forced back along said pipe. The operating catches or cams * *g* may be
so arranged upon the rock shaft that should the pressure in the cylinders A
and B be increased by more passengers or other extra weight getting into or being
placed in the lift the valve F leading into the governing cylinder C will be opened
the valve G being then closed and the pressure of water thus being caused to act
upon the piston whose area being greater than that of the ram d will enable the
increased load to be raised.
f
It will be obvious that the cams or catches e f g may be combined and arranged
in many different ways for instance I may through the instrumentality first open
communication to the small governing cylinder D then with the next largest
governing cylinder C then with the upper part of the next largest B after which I

page_text: may cut off communication with the upper part of said governing cylinder B and
open communication to both of the governing cylinders C and D at the same time
(a cam or pawl g* such as is illustrated in Fig. 9 being employed to reopen the
valve G) after which I might substitute the upper part of B for C and finally I
might so arrange said pawls or cams as that all three cylinders BC and D would
be in operation together in which case if their collective areas were sufficiently
large I might intensify the water in the cylinders A and B to a greater pressure
than that of the power water.
When the lift is coming down with a fairly heavy load the medium sized piston c
may be arranged to force water back into the pressure main.
In order to effect this the pressure of water in the cylinder B has to raise the
piston or plunger in the cylinder O to compress the spring o and turn the rock
shaft o round sufficiently far to close the valve M through the medium of the cam
or catch m' which is mounted upon said shaft and is constructed in a similar manner
to the cams fabove described. The effect of this will be that the water con-
tained in the cylinder C will be forced to pass through the retention or back
pressure valve into the power main I that being obviously the only course open
to it. The water from the governing cylinders B and D will be free to pass
through the valves L N and up the discharge pipe J into the tank or
reservoir K.
In a similar manner should a lighter load be coming down in the lift the valve L
will be closed and the water in the governing cylinder D will be forced along the
pipe g and through the retention or back pressure valve g° into the main or if a
larger load be descending in the cage the valve N will be closed and the water in
the upper part of the cylinder B will be forced to pass through the pipe e* and back
pressure valve into said main I or under some circumstances any two or even all
of the governing cylinders B C D might be coupled together and be caused to
force water back into the main, cams such are illustrated in Fig. 9 being employed
to open two of the valves a second time.
It will be obvious that the amount of this returned water will be regulated by
the areas of the pistons b and c and ram d and that the question of which one of the
three is operating will be determined by the pressure in the cylinder B acting
upon the piston or plunger in the cylinder O as above described.
In order to allow two of the cylinders B C D to discharge into the main whilst
the third cylinder discharges into the waste water tank K small back pressure or
retention valves e fare inserted in the pipes e* f*g* close to the stop
valves E F G thus preventing the water from being simply forced out of one of
the cylinders B CD into another one and thence into the waste water tank K
instead of passing into the main 1.
In order to allow either of the two valves F G to be opened and afterwards
returned to their normal positions whilst at the same time allowing the valve E to
be opened either construct the two pawls or cams fg as illustrated in Figs. 10
and 11 or else I secure an arm Pupon the rock shaft h and adapt said arm to
engage with a pair of pawls or catches (Figs. 8 and 12) on a vertically sliding
frame adapted to raise the ends of the pivoted trip levers f³ ³ so as to allow
the cams or catches to pass them and so return to their normal positions. The
pawls are provided with weighted tail pieces whereby they are normally kept
projecting into the centre of said frame as clearly illustrated in full lines in Figs. 8
and 12. The bent arm or lever P and the pawls are so arranged that just when
the valve F is fully opened said arm will engage with said pawls pp so that in the
event of the passengers. getting off the lift said arm will raise the sliding frame
and will carry with it the ends of either one or both of the trip levers 3 g³ thus
depressing the other ends of said trip levers and thereby allowing the pawls or
cains to pass them and return to their normal positions said pawls or cams
being each secured upon the shaft h by a pin p² (ride Fig. 9) working in a slot p³
cut in said pawl and so arranged as to allow the shaft h a certain amount of

page_text: a
rotation before it carries said pawl or cam with it thereby allowing the ends of the
trip levers fy to be lowered sufficiently far to allow said pawls or catches ***g*
to pass them and return to their normal positions.
If preferred, instead of this contrivance the end of each of the pawls or
catches fg might be provided with a small pivotted nose-piece P (see Figs. 10
and 11) normally pressed outwards by a small spring p2 in such a manner as that
it will engage with the trip levers f³ ³ on its downward movement, but will be free
to pass them on its upward movement.
A similar arrangement to one or other of those just described is provided on the
opposite side of the machine for use in connection with the operating gear of the
valves L M N.
If preferred, suitably-shaped cams might be mounted upon the shaft o' and be
arranged to effect the desired object of closing the valves L M N by allowing them
to be operated upon by springs l** m **, whose tendency is to always keep
them closed, or said cams might be constructed to "give" somewhat when closing
said valves, as will be well understood by all persons skilled in the art to which this
invention relates.
To provide against the result of the reduction of the pressure water below its
standard or normal value, I have devised the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 13 in
order that an auxiliary governing cylinder may be brought into operation to, as it
were, assist the others, and so provide sufficient power to lift the load with such
reduced pressure water.
This apparatus consists of a cylinder Q in open communication with the pressure
main I, and fitted with a piston y having a downwardly projecting spindle q con-
nected at its lower end with the arm r of a small stop valve R inserted in a pipe
connecting the cylinder Q with the lower end of the cylinder B and therefore with
the main operating cylinder of the lift or other hydraulic machine.
Around the spindle q' is arranged-a coiled spring S, whose tendency is to always
raise said spindle and the piston y against the pressure of water from the main I.
This said spring is so adjusted as to be able to force the piston y upwards in the
event of the pressure in the main I falling below its normal value, the effect being
to open the valve R and so admit the water from the lower part of the cylinder B
to the under side of the piston q, which will then be forced upwardly against the
pressure of a second adjustable spring according to the varying pressure in the
lower part of the cylinder B-that is, according to the weight of the load to be
raised or other work done.
This movement of the piston is utilized for the purpose of turning on one or
other of the valves E F G in addition to the one or ones already opened by the
instrumentality of the cylinder H, rock shaft h, and cams or pawls e, a second
rock shaft t being mounted below the first one h, and being provided with cams or
pawls adapted to raise one or other of the spindles efy of the valves E F G,
it being understood that said cams or pawls t¹³ ³ are so adjusted as to only operate
upon a valve not already opened.
By this means should the pressure in the main fall below its normal value, an
extra governing cylinder BC or D will be utilized to, as it were, assist those
already in use, and thus the decrease of pressure will be compensated for.
The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3 is similar in its essential features to that
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, but is simpler, owing to the fact that
only two cylinders (B and C) are employed. This modification is suitable for low
pressure lifts where it is only required to have a choice of say three powers, it
being obvious that the pawls or cams ef might, in the arrangement illustrated, be
so arranged as to turn the power water into the small governing cylinder C in the
event of only a light load being in the cage, or into the governing cylinder B in
the event of there being a heavier load, or into both in the event of its being
required to employ the maximum power available.
On the down stroke, one or other of the governing cylinders B C would be

page_text: automatically put in communication with the power main by the variation of
pressure in the lower part of the cylinder B acting upon a rock shaft o'. This
arrangement being, as above stated, merely a simplification of that already described
with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, will not need any further explanation.
Fig. 4 shows the application of my invention to a lift operated by water
contained in three cisterns supported at varying altitudes. Each of said
cisterns B C D is connected with one of three valves E F G, which are all
connected with the main lift cylinder A, and are operated by mechanism such as is
illustrated in Figs. 6 to 12, so that as hereinbefore mentioned, either of the
valves E F or G will be opened according to the power required to raise the load
on the ram A', such opening being effected by the pressure of water in the lift
cylinder A, acting upon the piston or plunger ³, in the manner above described,
with reference to the corresponding valves in Fig. 2.
.
Water will be returned into one or other of the cisterns D C according to the
pressure in the cylinder A, by opening one or other of the valves L or M by means
of an apparatus constructed as above described, and arranged to be operated by the
pressure in said cylinder.
The operation of this modification of my invention is as follows:-Assuming that
only a light load is to be raised by the ram A', then the pressure of water caused
by said load in the cylinder A will turn on the valve E, so as to utilize the water
in the lowest tank D. On the other hand, should the lift be loaded to somewhere
near its maximum carrying capacity, the valve G will open, and thus the head of
water in the highest tank B will be used.
Upon the ram A' descending, the water will (provided the load is heavy enough)
be forced from the cylinder A through one or other of the valves L M (according
to the pressure in said cylinder) into one or other of the tanks CD, thus obviating
the necessity for pumping that amount of water up into said tanks by the expenditure
of valuable power.
From the foregoing description it will be obvious that with the aid of my
invention I am enabled to effect a considerable saving in the amount of power water
required for working hydraulic lifts or other hydraulic machinery, because, instead
of, as heretofore, filling the ram cylinder with high pressure water at each
stroke, irrespectively of whether a heavy or a light load is to be raised, I
merely use sufficient water to accomplish the desired object. Moreover, on the
return stroke or descent I utilize the weight of the descending load to force a
certain proportional quantity of water either back into the water main or else
into an accumulator.
Referring to Fig. 14, U represents an arm which is keyed or otherwise fixed
upon the rock shaft h, and whose outer end engages with a lug or stop u upon the
spindle of one of the valves E F G. The position of this arm U is so arranged as
that in the event of the cage being supported upon the floor of the lift-well, for
instance, it will raise said spindle so as to open said valve, and thus allow the
pressure water to flow into one of the governing cylinders B C or D as soon as the
starting valve i is operated in the ordinary way, it being, of course, understood
that as soon as the lift is started the piston h¹ in the cylinder H comes into opera-
tion and regulates the supply of water into said governing cylinders, as above
described.
Instead of employing the variable pressure of water in the main operating
cylinder A of the hydraulic machine, I may, if preferred, connect the end of the
haulage or lifting rope V to a lever fulcrummed upon a suitable support and
connected at one end with an adjustable spring hand at the other end with a rock
shaft fitted with cams such as are illustrated at e₁ fg, whereby the valves E F G
may be opened or closed according to the weight in the cage, in a similar manner
to when said rock shaft h is operated by said variable pressure of water in the main
operating cylinder.
The operation of this modification of my invention will be readily understood on

page_text: reference to Fig. 15, it being obvious that any increase or decrease of weight (in
the lift will pull down the end of the rope V, and will extend the spring h³, and so
rock the shaft h a certain amount, thus bringing one or other of said cams or
pawls e f g into operation.
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 I make no
general claim to apparatus whereby hydraulic lifts or other machines dealing with
varying loads have their operating pressure automatically varied according to their
load by causing the normal pressure to act in governing or auxiliary cylinders so
as to intensify more or less the pressure in the operating cylinder. Nor do I
generally claim in combination with such auxiliary cylinders, systems of valves
actuated by the pressure in the operating cylinder resulting from the load so as to
bring one or more of the auxiliary cylinders into communication with the
accumulator or reservoir either for receiving supply of power water or for returning
their discharge to the accumulator or reservoir; but what claim is :-
1. In apparatus for automatically proportioning the amount of water for working
a hydraulic lift to its load, the use in combination of two or more governing or
auxiliary cylinders arranged in one axial line each having a supply valve operated
by a cam or catch on a rock shaft which is moved in opposition to an adjusted spring
by a plunger subject to the pressure in the lift cylinder, substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
2. In apparatus such as is above referred to arranging discharge valves of the
governing or auxiliary cylinders to be operated by cams or catches on a rock shaft
which is moved by a plunger subject to the pressure in the lift cylinder, in such
manner as to return to the accumulator or reservoir a greater or less portion of
the operating water according as the descending load is greater or less, substantially
as described.
3. The combination with two or more governing cylinders (such as B C), fitted
with pistons (such as be) of different area, and connected each with a separate valve
(such as EF) in the power water main of a rock shaft (such as 7) fitted with
pawls, catches or cams (such as e^f^) arranged each to open one of said valves,
said rock shaft being connected with a piston or plunger (such as ³) working
inside a cylinder (such as H) in open communication with the main operating
cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained, and
as illustrated in my drawings.
4. The combination of a rock shaft (such as h) fitted with pawls or catches
(such as ef), adapted to engage with trip levers (such as e fg³) connected
with the spindles of said valves, said pawls, catches, or cams being arranged in
different relative positions around said shaft, so as to operate upon the spindles of
and so open said valves in rotation, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and explained, and as illustrated in my drawings.
5. The combination with a rock shaft (such as h) connected with and operated
by a device (such, for instance, as the cylinder H and piston ³) whereby said rock
shaft is partially rotated according to the pressure in the main operating cylinder
of a set of pivotted trip levers (such as e f g³), each of one of whose ends engages
with a collar (such as eg¹) secured upon each of the spindles of a corresponding
number of valves (such as EFG) in the power water supply main, the whole being
constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained, and as illustrated in my drawings.
6. In an apparatus for automatically regulating the amount of power water used
in hydraulic machinery according to the weight to be raised or work done, the
combination with the spindles (such as f g) of a pair of valves (such as F G) of an
arm or lever (such as P) mounted upon a rock shaft (such as h) carrying pawls,
catches, or cams, whereby said spindles may be raised to open said valves, together
with a vertically sliding-frame (such as p¹) engaging with said spindles, and fitted
B

page_text: with a pair of pawls (such as p) wherewith said arm can engage, substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in
my drawings.
7. The employment of a cylinder (such as H) fitted with a piston or plunger
(such as h³) connected through the medium of rods, pawls, levers, or other
contrivances with the spindles of two or more valves (such as E F G), said cylinder
being in open communication with the main operating cylinder of the lift or other
hydraulic machine, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained, and as illustrated in my drawings.
8. In apparatus for use in hydraulic machinery for automatically returning a
certain proportion of water either to the main or else into an accumulator,
according to the weight of the descending load, the combination with two or more
cylinders (such as B C) containing pistons or rams (such as bc) of varying areas,
and each connected either with said pressure main or else with an accumulator by
pipes (such as e* f*) fitted with back pressure or retention valves (such as eƒ)
of a corresponding number of stop valves (such as L M) together with means (such
for instance as the cylinder O, the piston working therein, a rock shaft o and
pawls, catches or cams thereon) whereby one of said valves will be automatically
closed according to the pressure in the main operating cylinder, that is, according
to the weight of the descending load, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and explained, and as illustrated in my drawings.
9. The combination with two or more valves (such as E F G) admitting water
from one or more of a series of tanks (such as B CD) arranged at varying altitudes
of means, (such, for instance, as a cylinder H, a piston working therein, and a
rock shaft, (such as h) carrying pawls catches or cams) adapted to open either one
or more of said valves, said cylinder being in open communication with the main
operating cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained, and as illustrated in Fig. 4 of my drawings.
10. The combination with two or more valves (such as L M) opening communi-
cation between the waste pipe of a hydraulic machine and tanks (such as DC)
arranged at different altitudes of means (such, for instance, as the cylinder H,
piston working therein, rock shaft and pawls, catches or cams e* f*9* mounted
thereon) whereby one or other of said valves can be opened, according to the
pressure in said main ram cylinder, that is, according to the weight of the descending
load, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained, and as
illustrated in my drawings.
11. The employment of a cylinder (such as Q) in open communication with the
pressure main, and having a piston (such as g) acted upon by a spiral or other
spring (such as S) so that in the event of the pressure in said main dropping
below its normal value, said piston will by its movement turn on a valve (such as R)
and so
open communication between said cylinder and the main operating
cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes specified, and as illustrated in Fig. 13
of my drawings.
12. The combination with a series of valves (such as E F G) serving to open
communication between the power water main and a corresponding series of
governing cylinders (such as B C D) of a piston (such as q) normally held in a
certain position by the pressure of water in said main, and connected by an
arrangement of cams, rods, or levers with said valves, substantially as and for the
purposes specified, and as illustrated in Fig. 13 of my drawings.
as e*
13. The combination with a rock shaft (such as h) fitted with cams (such
or other contrivances adapted to open a valve or valves (such
as E F G) according to the weight in the cage of an arm (such as U Fig. 14)
fixed upon such rock shaft, and adapted to open one or other of said valves,
in the event of the weight of said cage being supported, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and explained, and as illustrated in Fig. 14
of my drawings.

page_text: 14. The combination with a haulage rope (such as V) of a lever (such as h¹)
connected at one end to an adjustable spring (such as h³) and mounted upon a
rock shaft (such as h) fitted with cams (such as et f 9¹) or other contrivances
for opening one or more valves (such as E F G) according to the weight in the
cage, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and explained, and as
illustrated in Fig. 15 of my drawings.
DLL 1
Ր At 1001
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.