AN IMPROVED HYDRAULIC PRESS
Year: 1857

page_text: LITTERS, PATENT
to Marc Antoine Francois Mennons, of 29, Rue de
l'Abbaye, Montmartre, (Departement de la Seine,) in the Empire of
France, Clerk, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED HYDRAULIC PRESS."-
: A communication.
-
Sealed the 30th March 1858, and dated the 20th October 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine Francois
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 20th October 1857.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANCOIS MENNONS, of 29, Rue de l'Abbaye, Montmartre,
(Departement de la Seine,) in the Empire of France, Clerk, do hereby declare
the nature of the Invention of AN IMPROVED HYDRAULIC PRESS," to be as
follows, that is to say:-
This Invention consists, first, in fitting to the interior of the cylinder of an
hydraulic press a flexible cylinder or casing for preventing friction and
actuating the ram.
Secondly, in constructing the pump of hydraulic presses with three pistons
to obtain an increase of power.
Thirdly, in an improved mode of strengthening the frame of the press.
The frame of the hydraulic press is composed of two upright standards fixed
to suitable feet or supports, and the cross heads or pieces are secured to the
standards by tenons and mortices of an angular shape.
The hydraulic cylinder is furnished in the interior with a flexible cylinder or
water-tight casing, composed of leather, or pieces of silk, wool, cotton, or other
the nature of the Invention of AN IMPROVED HYDRAULIC PRESS," to be as
follows, that is to say:
This Invention consists, first, in fitting to the interior of the cylinder of an
hydraulic press a flexible cylinder or casing for preventing friction and
actuating the ram.
Secondly, in constructing the pump of hydraulic presses with three pistons
to obtain an increase of power.
Thirdly, in an improved mode of strengthening the frame of the press.
The frame of the hydraulic press is composed of two upright standards fixed
to suitable feet or supports, and the cross heads or pieces are secured to the
standards by tenons and mortices of an angular shape.
The hydraulic cylinder is furnished in the interior with a flexible cylinder or
water-tight casing, composed of leather, or pieces of silk, wool, cotton, or other

page_text: similar material united together by caoutchouc.
This flexible casing is in
connection with the pipe of the injection pump. This pump is provided with
three pistons, fitting one within the other, and they may be worked either sepa-
rately or in combination, according to circumstances. In working the pump the
water enters the flexible cylinder, and in unfolding it actuates the ram of the
press and prevents friction. The press is fitted at the upper part with a
moveable pressing block for compressing oily or other substances. It is made
to traverse by means of rollers on a rail or train support. The connecting
pipe of the pump is fitted with a safety valve. Several pressing cylinders may,
be employed, if necessary, actuated by one or more pumps worked by steam
or other motive power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine Francois Mennons in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANCOIS MENNONS, of 29, Rue de l'Abbaye, Montmartre, Departe-
ment de la Seine, in the Empire of France, Clerk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Marc Antoine Francois Mennons, Her special licence that I, the said
Marc Autoine Francois Mennons, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Marc Antoine Francois Mennons, ny 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 ex-
pressed, 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 of "AN IMPROVED HYDRAULIC PRESS," communicated
to me from a foreigner residing abroad, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Marc Antoine Francois Mennons, my executors or administra-
tors, by an instrument in writing under, my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marc Antoine Francois Mennons, do
hereby declare the nature of the 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 Drawing hereto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say ;-
The Invention communicated to me consists in an improved arrangement of
hydraulic press, which may be constructed either entirely of wood, or entirely
or in part of iron or other metal.
Figures 1 and 2 represent a side and front elevation, partly in section, of
the improved press. The framework or body of the press is composed of a'
sole plate and two oak supports united by iron bands and bolts, and connected
by four iron pillars, having at each of their extremities a wrought-iron head,
in place of nuts and key pieces. These pillars may be replaced by two
standards of oak. On the lower support of the press are mounted the cylinder,'
the pressure ram, and its accessories, of which the interior arrangements are
represented in section and elevation in the two Figures. In Figure 1, the
piston is shown at rest, and in Figure 2 it is represented at the maximum of
its stroke.
supports the pressure
with juxtaposed iron
maximum force which
Figures 3 and 4 represent on a larger scale the details of the pressure
cylinder and injecting pump, the latter fixed at one end of the lower support.
Figures 1 and 2 shew the lower table of oak A, which
cylinder constructed of strong sheet iron, strengthened
hoops B, of which the thickness is determined by the
they are intended to resist. The ram c is constructed of oak, fastened by iron
bolts, and is surmounted by a wooden pressure table D, fitted with two iron
rails on which rolls the truck E. Between the wooden ram and the iron
cylinder is an annular space fitted with a casing F, composed of several thick-
nesses of silk or other suitable tissue, and between each of which is placed a
coat of natural or vulcanized caoutchouc, according to the degree of resistance
and flexibility required. This casing assumes the form of the interior of the
cylinder, and the exterior form of the ram, and its flexibility enables it to
follow the upward and downward movement of the ram with ease, whilst the
annular space which separates it from the cylinder completely obviates the
friction that would exist were these portions to work in juxtaposition, as
in the ordinary system of hydraulic presses. This flexible casing, which is an
essential part of the press, may also be formed of leather, suitably prepared
and joined by a metallic seam or by copper rivets. As a general rule, however,
it is preferable to employ the silken tissue prepared as above described.
Figure 4 represents in detail, on an enlarged scale, the manner in which

page_text: this casing, and the pipe. communicating with the injection pump, are connected
and fixed to the bottom of the cylinder. The casing F is secured by a copper
piece G to the bottom of the cylinder by a moveable nut, below which is a
screw joining it to the horizontal tube H, at the extremity of which is fitted a
three-way stop cock, communicating directly with the injection pump. This
stop cock, according to its arrangement, serves either for the passage of the
water into the cylinder for stopping it, or for emptying the cylinder after the
pressure of the materials has been effected. The stop cock is provided at the
upper part of its key with a safety valve, which, by means of a lever and a
counterpoise I, regulates the maximum of the pressure to be produced. The
injection pump J, Figures 1 and 2, is shewn on a larger scale in Figure 4,
which represents its details in elevation and section. It is composed of a
pump cylinder in brass, having at its base two joint screws, in the interior of
which are placed the valves, which may be removed and replaced at will. The
upper part of the body of the pump cylinder has a moveable cap, which
permits of working either separately or simultaneously the pistons contained
in the cylinder. These pistons, which may be two or more in number, being
of different diameters, accelerate the ascending movement of the pressure ram,
or diminish the speed of its stroke (thus increasing the energy of its action),
according as we employ the larger or smaller. These two pistons work in
stuffing boxes, the packing of which -consists of a hollow oval washer of vul-
canised caoutchouc. These washers, represented in section, Figure 4, are
pierced in the lower part on the side of the pistons with several apertures,
which allow the water to penetrate into their interior, and by the resulting
pressure when the pump is worked, their surfaces are kept constantly applied
to the piston with an energy proportioned to that of their action on the
pressure ram of the press. When required to work several presses at once,
the injecting pumps are composed of a number of pump cylinders, similar to
that above described, forming a single arrangement worked by steam. It will
readily be seen from the preceding details that this press is of simple con-
struction. Its power may be extended by increasing the diameter of its
pressure cylinder. The principle on which it is constructed permits of these
cylinders being employed, either singly or in groups of any number, and
worked by one or several pumps actuated by the hand, by steam, or other
motor. They may be fixed on the upper cross piece of the press frame to
effect a downward pressure, or coupled and placed horizontally for pressure in
this direction, either separately or simultaneously, as required. Lastly, the
framework the pressure cylinder and its accessories may be constructed either
of metal or wood, according to circumstances.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying out the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details of construction herein laid down, as the same may be
modified without departing from the principle on which the system is based;
but what I claim is:-
First, the mechanical arrangement of the injecting pump, working with two
or more pistons in the same cylinder, as herein-before described and referred to
in the annexed Drawings.
Secondly, the employment of the flexible casing, formed of leather, or of silk,
cotton, wool, or other suitable material coated with caoutchouc, as herein-
before described and referred to in the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly, the combination of one or several injecting pumps, with one or
several pressure cylinders, arranged to act either separately or together,
vertically or horizontally, as herein-before described, and shewn in the accom-
panying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine Francois Mennons, have
hereto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-eight.
M. F. MENNUNS. (L.S.)