Improvements in Machines for Pressing Hay and other Substances.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Pressing Hay and other Substances.
I, JOHN EDWARD SHARMAN PERKINS of Peterborough in the County of
Northamptonshire, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide improved means of lifting the ram or
platen in that class of machines for pressing hay and other substances in which the
pressure is exerted downwards and is specially applicable to machines in which the
pressure is applied by chains wound on a drum beneath the platform of the machine.
It is sometimes desirable to provide means for tilting the ram into a vertical
position so as to facilitate the placing of the truss or bale to be pressed in position
on the table of the machine. For this purpose I provide two studs one at each end
of the ram which slide in grooves formed in the frame of the machine. These
studs form pivots or trunnions, about which the ram can be turned from a horizontal
to a vertical position, and I prefer to place them as near the back of the ram as
possible. I lift the ram by chains and counterballance weights, the chains passing
over pulleys on a shaft above the back of the machine. Two of these pulleys, the
chains from which are attached to the back of the ram, are keyed fast on the shaft
and revolve with it. The third pulley, the chain from which is attached to the
front of the ram is free to revolve on the shaft. The pulleys are notched to suit
the chain and so prevent one end of the ram rising faster than the other. Stops
are fixed in the guides which prevent the back of the ram rising above the desired
height, while the front is free to rise till the ram stands vertically against the back
of the machine, thus leaving the table of the machine clear of any obstruction while
the truss is placed in position.
I make the stops which prevent the back of the ram from rising above a certain
height adjustable in order that they may be raised as the chains by which the
pressure is applied stretch, so that when the ram is at its highest position the
chains are always tight and will therefore coil truly on the drums on which they
are wound.
In order that the back of the ram shall not rise before the front I sometimes fix
pins in the shaft which take against projections on the loose chain wheel, the loose
wheel is then driven by the shaft until the shaft ceases to revolve on the back of
the ram reaching the stops. The loose pulley is then free to make one revolution
before the projections on the pulley again come in contact with the pins on the shaft
and this is sufficient to tilt the ram into a vertical position.
In place of passing the lifting chains over pulleys and attaching them directly to
the weights I sometimes attach them to a beam pivotted near its centre above the
back of the machine, and to this beam I attach the counterballance weights. In
this case the lifting chains may be attached near the centre of the ram.
In some cases I fix the adjustable stop to some other part of the frame of the
machine instead of to the guides.
Dated this 4th day of December 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Pressing Hay, and other Substances.
I, JOHN EDWARD SHARMAN PERKINS of Queen Street Ironworks, Peter-
borough in the County of Northampton 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:-
.
The object of this invention is to provide improved means of lifting the ram or
platen, in that class of machines for pressing hay or other substances, in which the
pressure is exerted downwards, and is specially applicable to machines in which the
pressure, is applied by chains wound on a drum beneath the platform of the machine.
It is sometimes desirable to provide means for tilting the ram into a vertical or
inclined position, so as to facilitate the placing of the truss or bale to be pressed,
in position, on the table of the machine. For this purpose I provide two studs
which slide in grooves formed in the frame of the machine. These studs which
may carry rollers form pivots or trunnions about which the ram can be turned
from a horizontal to a vertical position and I prefer to place them near the back of
the ram.
I lift the ram by chains and counterbalance weights passing over pulleys, on a
shaft at the top of the machine. The pulleys may be notched or grooved to suit
the chain or rope used-two of these pulleys, the chains from which are attached
to the back of the ram, are keyed fast on the spindle, and revolve with it.-The
third pulley, the chain from which is attached to the front of the ram, is free to
revolve on the shaft. Stops may be fixed to the guides, or to some other part of
the machine, to prevent the back of the ram rising above the desired height, while
the front is free to continue to rise until the ram stands vertically against the back
of the machine, thus leaving the platform of the machine clear of all obstruction
while the truss is placed in position. I make the stops which prevent the back of
the ram from rising adjustable in order that they may be raised, as the chains by
which the pressure is adjusted, stretch, so that when the ram is in its highest
position, the chains are always tight, and will therefore coil truly on the drums-
on which they are wound. The stops may also be adjusted to various heights to
suit various sizes of trusses or bales.
In order that the back of the ram shall not rise before the front I sometimes fix
pins in the shaft, which take against projections, on the loose chain wheel, the loose
wheel is then driven by the shaft until the shaft ceases to revolve, on the back of
the ram reaching the stops.
The loose wheel is then free to make one revolution before the projections on the
pulley, again come into contact with the pins on the shaft, and this is sufficient to
tilt the ram to a vertical position. In place of passing the lifting chains over
pulleys and attaching them directly to the weights, I sometimes attach them to a
beam pivoted near its centre to the frame of the machine, and to this beam I attach
the counterbalance weights, in this case the lifting chains may be attached, in the
centre line of the ram, or chains attached near the centre of the ram may be joined
and carried by a single pulley or by two pulleys keyed on a shaft, as before
described.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, shows an end view, and
Fig. 2, a front view of a press.
I

page_text: When the ram has risen to the required height the back part is prevented from
rising further by the guide rollers L coming in contact with the stops M, but the
pulley K, being free to revolve on the shaft, the front of the ram continues to rise
till the ram, reaches the position shewn by the dotted lines, thus leaving room for
the truss or bale to be placed in position on the table of the machine.
Fig. 3, shews a similar arrangement, in which double guides are used to control
the motion of the ram.
The guide rollers may be replaced by pins sliding in a groove.
Fig. 4, shows an arrangement in which the two chains, or ropes only are used,
these are attached near the centre line of the ram, and pass over two pulleys,
keyed on the shaft G, these continue to raise it to an inclined position after the
guide rollers L have come in contact with the adjustable stops M, or the two may
be joined and carried over a single pulley. Instead of the chains and notched
wheels, ropes may be used working in grooved pulleys, as shown in section at P.
Fig. 5, shows a similar arrangement, in which the chains A are attached to a
beam Q, which carries a balance weight R. at its other extremity, or two levers
keyed on the shaft G may be used with separate chains to each end of the ram.
Having now described the nature of my invention I wish it to be understood that
what I claim is.―
1st. An arrangement of lifting chains as described, in which the pulleys over
which the chains from the ram pass are keyed fast on a shaft, thus causing the two
ends of the ram to rise together.
2nd. An arrangement of lifting chains in which the pulleys carrying the chains
from the back of the ram are keyed on a shaft, while the pulley carrying the chain
from the front of the ram is free to revolve independently.
3rd. An arrangement of lifting chains or levers, as described and which may
be attached to any part of the ram, in combination with a stop, which prevents
the back of the ram rising above a fixed height-while leaving the front free
to rise.
4th. An adjustable stop which may be fixed at different heights to regulate the
height to which the ram shall be allowed to rise.
5th. The arrangements for lifting the ram substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of August 1891.
J. EDWARD S. PERKINS.