IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING FORCE, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR INCREASING Trnntra PossC
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ferdinand Tommasi, of 166, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR GENERATING FORCE, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR INCREASING
Trnntra Poss
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ferdinand Tommasi at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd January 1871.
I, FERDINAND TOMMASI, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING FORCE, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR
INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF HYDRAULIC PRESSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates chiefly to the employment of a force obtained
by the expansion of fatty and other oils through heat,. the oil being
allowed to flow into suitable cylinders or receptacles in which pistons
are free to rise and exert a power upon the rams of hydraulio presses
or other similar machines the cylinders of which are furnished with.
oil in lieu of water or other liquid, and then to be suddenly cooled by

page_text: the action of water, so that the pistons should make their return stroke in
order to keep up a constant working if such is required.
The apparatus by which I prefer to carry my Invention into effect is
composed of a conical serpentine coil of piping arranged over a furnace,
this coil is supplied with oil at the top through a funnel or pipe whose
contents can be seen by means of a gauge. The lower end of the coil
is fitted with branch pipes to lead the oil to cylinders to act upon thic
piston or pistons placed therein, the branch pipes having cocks or valves
in connection, which can be operated by levers and rods worked by an
attendant. Pipes lead the oil from the cylinders into receivers or into
a set or sets of tubes, against which water is caused to act to cool the
oil down and reduce it in bulk, the piston or pistons descending at the
same time by the weight of themselves or by additional weight placed
upon them.
The manner in which the pipes just mentioned lead the oil from the
cylinders, and the manner in which the water is caused to play against
the receiver or sets of tubes so as to cool the oil form no part of my
Invention and may be done by any ordinary and well-known means.
The admission of oil to the cylinders and the flow of the water through
the pipes connected with the apparatus are governed by workmen, who
open and close the cocks or valves in regular order whether the power
required for the pressing operation be heavy or light. The heat of the
fire can also be regulated by a bellows with which the apparatus is
provided, so that the rate of working can be maintained to any extent.
By the disposition of the pipes either end of the cylinders can be
instantly relieved from pressure if desired. The cooling apparatus is
preferably attached to the heating apparatus though insulated therefrom
by a partition of non-conducting material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Ferdinand Tommasi in the Great Seal Patent 3
Office on the 22nd July 1871.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Ferdinand Tommasi, Her
special licence that I; the said Ferdinand Tommasi, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Ferdinand
Tommasi, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING FORCE, ESPECIALLY
APPLICABLE FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF HYDRAULIC PRESSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Ferdinand Tommasi, my
executors or administrators, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Ferdinand Tommasi, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
'
This Invention relates chicfly to the employment of a force obtained
by the expansion of liquids, preferably oil and other unevaporable liquids,
through heat, the oil being allowed to flow into suitable cylinders or
receptacles in which pistons are in consequence made to move and
exert an indefinite power limited only by the strength of the material of
which the apparatus is composed; this piston will then return to its
normal place either in consequence of the oil leaving the cylinder or in
consequence of the condensation of the heated oil under the effect of a
refrigerating medium, or in consequence of both these actions at once.
The apparatus by which I prefer to carry my Invention into effect is
composed of a conical serpentine coil of piping arranged over a furnace,
the upper part of which can be put into communication either with the.

page_text: machine to be worked or with a funnel. The lower end of the coil is
fitted with branch pipes to lead the oil to cylinders to act upon the
piston or pistons placed therein; the branch pipes having cocks or
.valves in connection, which can be operated by levers and rods worked
by an attendant. Pipes lead the oil from the cylinders into receivers
.or into a set or sets of tubes against which water is caused to act to cool
the oil down and reduce it in bulk, the piston or pistons descending at
the same time by the weight of themselves or by additional weight
placed upon them. The admission of oil to the cylinders and the flow
of the water through the pipes connected with the apparatus are
governed by workmen who open and close the cocks or valves in regular
order whether the power required for the pressing operation be heavy or
light. The heat of the fire can also be regulated by a bellows with
which the apparatus is provided so that the rate of working can be
maintained to any extent. By the disposition of the pipes either end of
the cylinders can be instantly relieved from pressure if desired. The
cooling apparatus is preferably attached to the heating apparatus though
insulated therefrom by a partition of non-conducting material.
-
I proceed to describe one form of my Invention as practically applied
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a
front elevation; Figure 2 a vertical section, and Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6
respectively. horizontal sections through the lines a, a, b, b, c, c, and
d, d, of Figure 2 of my apparatus or "hydro-thermic generator." This
apparatus is composed first of a heating machine wherein the liquid is
expanded, and secondly of a cooling machine wherein the liquid regains
its normal volume..
. The heating machine is composed of a furnace B, seen in all the
Figures, with a moveable ash-pan C, above which is placed a spiral
tube A twisted in the form of a cone and so as to leave no space between
any of the spirals. This spiral tube or worm is enclosed in a casing
terminated at its upper part by a dome and smoke escape pipe. The
lower extremity of the spiral tube proceeds through the casing to a
socket or joint D from which a short bent pipe proceeds to the two
pipes I and K, seen in Figures 1, 3, and 4. The pipe I leads to the
upper part of the cylinder O (Figures 2 and 3) and the pipe K is con-
nected with the lower part of the cylinders P. The upper extremity of
the spiral tube proceeds through the dome of the casing and is terminated
by a joint E, upon which a continuation is fitted leading to a cock by

page_text: which the spiral tube can be put into communication with the joints
above or below it at will or with both joints at once. Upon the upper
of these joints a funnel mouth A' is fitted, while to the lower one the
pipe F is attached. A glass tube communicating with the funnel mouth
permits the level of the liquid in the latter to be ascertained.
The cooling machine is composed first of a double bottom cylinder O
(see Figures 2 and 3) containing a rodless piston. Second, of two other.
and smaller cylinders P, also double bottomed with pistons and stuffing:
boxes; the rods of these pistons are hollow rods to have a free passage
for the air contained in the cylinders when the apparatus is just filled.
Thirdly, of two more cylinders Q still smaller than the last, also provided
with two pistons and rods and stuffind boxes. Fourthly, of a cylinder X¹
(see Figure 4) preferably of iron and slightly smaller than the cylinders Q
containing a leather washer and a moveable steel column surmounted by.
a cast-iron platform S. The rods of the pistons P and Q are fixed beneath,
this platform, on which a plate of lead is fixed. Fifthly, of two iron
columns united at their tops by an oval cast-iron plate which serves to
guide the upward and downward movement of the platform, the whole
arranged like an ordinary hydraulic press. Sixthly, of a water reservoir. R
composed of two wooden tanks in communication one with the other..
Seventhly, of eight separate collections of small tubes N (shown clearly.
in Figure 3), each collection having a joint at its end. Every two
collections are grouped together so as to form four couples, and in each
couple the collections communicate through a lower joint. The two
couples shewn placed to the left in Figure 3 communicate at the top on
one side with the pipe I and on the other with the upper part of the
cylinder O. The other two couples communicate at the top on the one
side with the cylinder O and on the other with the cylinder P. Valves
placed at the points of communication of the cylinder O with these
couples allow the liquid to pass from the cylinder Ointo the cylinder P
but do not permit the contrary movement, thus the liquid in passing
from the spiral tube A into the cylinder O has to pass through all the
tubes of the couples at the left of Figure 3; the liquid which passes
from the cylinder O into the cylinder P has likewise to traverse the tubes
composing the couples placed to the right in Figure 3, and the cooling of
the liquid is thereby greatly accelerated. The cylinder O and tubes N
are enclosed by a casing, as seen in Figure 1. A cock B₁ (see Figure 4)
allows water from the reservoir R to flow into the receiver thus formed;

page_text: and an escape pipe A" (see also Figure 4) allows the excess water to flow.
out. A pipe O¹ connects the lower part of the cylinder O with a water.
reservoir constructed of masonry and independent of the apparatus, and
the entry of the water into the cylinder O is regulated by a valve..
A pipe P¹ connects the lower part of the cylinder O with the reservoir R.
Pipes F connect the lower part of the cylinder Q with the masonry
reservoir, and another pipe M, seen in Figures 1, 2, and 4, connects the
lower part of the cylinders P with the worm A through the pipe R.
The pipe C¹, seen in Figures 1, 2, and 4, connects the small tubes N
seen on the left in Figure 3 with the worm, and pipes T (see Figures 1
and 4) put these tubes N in communication with the upper part of the
cylinder O. Pipes E¹, seen in Figures 1, 2, and 4, put the lower part of
the cylinders P into communication with the tubes N seen on the right
in Figure 3, and pipes D' shown in Figures 1 and 4 connect the tubes N
with the upper part of the cylinder O. Pipes K', seen in Figures 5 and 6,
connect the upper part of the cylinder P with the masonry reservoir,
and pipes M¹, also seen in Figures 5 and 6, put the said cylinder into
communication with the reservoir R. The pipes L' seen in the same
Figures connect the cylinders Q with the masonry reservoir. Pipes N¹
seen at Figures 5 and 6 connect the upper part of these cylinders with
the reservoir R.
In order to isolate as completely as possible the heating apparatus
from the cooling apparatus a perforated partition of hard marble is
interposed between the joint D which terminates the lower part of the
spiral tube or worm A and the joint of the piece to be fitted to it, the
partition being furnished on both sides with two sheets of lead not in
contact with each other. On the other side of each joint another
partition is placed similar to the other, but composed of two pieces
followed by a perforated iron plate, also in two pieces, placed on the
opposite side of the marble partition. The two joints and five partitions
are perforated with holes regularly placed but of different calibre. The
holes in the partitions are of the same diameter as the nuts to be fitted
to them, and the holes in the two joints and the plates of lead are of a
much larger diameter. This arrangement makes the joint perfectly
steam-tight, and completely isolates, so far as heat is concerned, the
heating from the cooling apparatus.
The apparatus is regulated by the cocks U", V", X", and Y", shown
in Figures 1, 4, and 6, which are respectively actuated by the handles

page_text: U, V, X, and Y, and the rods connected to them. The handle U is
connected to the cock U" by means of a crank pivotting upon a support
and of another shaft placed vertically. When this handle is in the
position shewn by Figures 5 and 6 the cock U" connects the worm A
exclusively with the pipe F and consequently with the hydraulic press.
When, on the other hand, this rod is pulled out by the handle U the
cock, U connects the worm A exclusively with the funnel A¹.
In
another position of the cock U" the worm A is at the same time
connected both with the pipe F and the funnel A'. The handle V is
connected to the cock V" in a similar manner, and when this handle
is in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6 the cock V" does not permit
the communication between the worm A and cylinder O, but when the
handle is pulled out the communication is opened. In like manner
with the handles X and Y in the position shown in the Drawings the
communications, in the one case of the cylinder X¹ and receiver B¹, and
in the other case of the cylinders P and worm A are closed, but when
these handles are drawn out these communications are opened. The
pipe G, seen in Figures 1, 4, 5, and 6, connects the discharge pipe of the
cylinder with the receiver B¹ and with the funnel A', the cock Y'allowing
of the interruption of the latter communication when desired. The
pipe Q connects the receiver B¹ with the part of the pipe K'comprised
between the cock Y" and the bundles of small pipes N, and consequently
with the cylinders P, the cock Z' (see Figures 1 and 4) cutting off this
communication when desired. The pipe F connects the worm A with
the admission pipe of the hydraulic press, and the pipe G¹ connects the
cylinder X¹ with the worm through the pipe F, while the pipe L connects
the said cylinder X¹ with the receiver B' by the intermission of the
pipe G. The box or casing R¹, shewn in Figures 2 and 3, contains a
piece of bellows worked by means of a lever S³ to which a to-and-fro
motion is communicated by a handle (see Figures 1 and 4). The bellows.
open on the one side into the furnace B, and on the other side into the
receiver wherein the cylinder O and the pipes N are placed by means of
cocks which are arranged so as to allow communication with the furnace
or receiver, or with both at once. This arrangement permits the super-
intendent of the machine to apply the bellows to urge on the combustion
in the furnace or to accelerate by means of the ebullition which the
compressed air produced in passing through the water the absorbtion by
the latter of the heat of the oil in the small pipes N and cylinder O, or
finally to obtain both of these objects at once.

page_text: Having described my heating apparatus and cooling apparatus I
proceed to explain how my Invention may be applied to the hydraulic
press. In order to adopt the latter I remove the discharge cock and
replace it by two pipes, the admission pipe and discharge pipe, I also fit
to the hydraulic press another pipe provided with a cock which leads into
the receiver which serves to feed its pump.
In order to connect my apparatus which I call 'the " hydro-thermic
generator" with the hydraulic press which it is to work I fit upon the
joint of the pipe F (shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4) the admission of the
hydraulic press and its discharge pipe upon the joint of the pipe G. This
mode of uniting is suitable for any system of hydraulic press.
My apparatus or generator having been united to the hydraulic press
the filling of the machine is effected as follows:-The cock X" and the
cock which serves to empty the hydraulic press are shut, the cocks
TV", Y, Z, the air escape cocks of the said press and of the cylinder X"
and all the cocks U are opened, the worm A is put in communication
with the pipe F and the two washers which close the upper orifice of the
hollow rods belonging to the pistons of the cylinders P are unscrewed.
Some oil is then poured in the reservoir which serves to supply the pump
belonging to thc hydraulic press, and this pump is worked, care been taken
that the said recipient is kept constantly filled with oil. In proportion
as the oil begins to issue from the cocks U₁ and Z¹ and from the air
escapement cocks of the hydraulic press and of the cylinder X', they are
shut when the oil issues from the above named hollowed out rods, their
washers are screwed on, and when the oil issues from the cock T" (which
shows that the filling is everywhere complete) it is shut. The cock Y¹
is then shut and the cock U" is placed so that the worm A may be at
the same time in connection both with the pipe Fand consequently with
the hydraulic press and with the funnel A' which is half filled with oil.
The pipes F¹, K¹, L', O¹, and A" are then connected with the masonry
reservoir before referred to and the reservoir R and the recipient in
which the bundles of small pipes N and the cylinder O are placed are
filled with water. Everything being thus arranged the hydraulic press
is in readiness. The work necessary for the hydro-thermic generator in
order to put in action the said press is very simple.
When the workman charged with the direction of the hydraulic press
has placed upon the platform the substances to be pressed or crushed he
works the pump
of the said press in the usual manner and continues to

page_text: work it until the resistance that he encounters becomes too considerable.
Whilst he does this the superintendent charged with the direction of the
hydro-thermic generator places the cock U" so that the worm A may bc
exclusively connected with the pipe F, shuts the cocks V" and Y", lights
the fuel already prepared in the furnace B, and in opening the cock Y¹
forces all the oil contained in the funnel A¹ into the receiver B. At the
same time he opens the cock B" already previously so placed as to give
passage only to a volume of water which is in proportion to the volume
of water furnished to the reservoir R by the cylinders O, P, and Q in a
given space of time, and works by means of the handle of the horizontal
rod H the bellows contained in the chest R. At the commencement of
cach working day he need only urge on the combustion in the furnace B
since the oil contained in the small pipes N and in the cylinder O is not
hot and does not require to be cooled. From the second operation to
the end of the work it is necessary to obtain the two results at the same
time, the engineer will consequently dispose the two cocks on which the
above-named operations depend. During this time the oil expanded by
the heat of the furnace pushes the moveable column of the hydraulic
press and that of the cylinder X' out of their cylinders. The platform of
the hydraulic press that conséquently accomplishes the useful work
desired to be obtained and the platform S draws in its upward movement
the pistons of the cylinders P and Q. Through the effect of this move-
ment the water contained in the said cylinders is driven back into the
reservoirs R, whilst the pistons of the cylinders Q suck up through the
interposition of the pipes F¹ the water of the brick reservoir, and the
pistons of the cylinders P suck up through the interposition of the
pipes D', E', and N the oil contained in the cylinder O. In consequence
of this suction the piston without rod contained in this cylinder is forced
to reascend and in its turn to suck up through the interposition of the
pipe O¹ the water of the brickwork reservoir.
When the workman charged with the direction of the hydraulic press
thinks that the upward movement of the platform of the said press
should be stopped he informs the engineer, who immediately pulls
towards him the bandle U. This movement intercepts by means of the
cock U" the communication between the hydraulic press and the worm A,
and at the same time opens communication between the latter and the
funnel. The superintendent then pulls towards him the handle V: This
movement in opening as we have already said by means of the cock V"
communication between the worm A and the cylinder O compels the

page_text: piston of this last to let itself be drawn by its own weight and to rapidly
descend, sucking up by the upper bottom of the said cylinder all the oil
contained in the worm A, and forcing back by its lower bottom all the
water with which it is filled into the reservoir R through the interposition
of the pipe P¹. For this purpose in the lower part of this piston a leaden
plate whose weight is at the same time in harmony both with the rapidity
with which the descent should take place (that is to say), the quickest
possible, and with the exigencies of the ascension of the above-named
piston. After this the superintendent pulls towards him the handle X.
This movement while opening by means of the cock X" communication
between the cylinder X' and the receiver B' allows the oil which fills the
former to flow into the latter when the platform S should perform its
descending movement. During this time the workman charged with
the direction of the hydraulic press will have opened the cock of the
discharge pipe of this last, and have compelled in consequence the
platform to descend. He will have taken care in doing this to allow to
flow into the receiver which serves to supply the pump the quantity of
oil necessary to completely fill it, and will have forced the rest into the
receiver B¹ by the interposition of the pipe G. He will have relieved the
platform of the substances already compressed or crushed, for which he
will have substituted others. Everything being consequently ready for
recommencing the operation he informs the superintendent. The latter.
then draws towards him the handle Y. This movement in opening as
we have already said by means of the cock Y communication between
the cylinders P and the worm A allows the oil which fills the former to
flow into the latter, and obliges at the same time the pistons of the
cylinders P and Q to fill these cylinders with the water which they suck
up from the brick reservoir by means of the pipes K' and L. This
movement moreover obliges the pistons of the cylinders Q to force back
into the reservoir R by means of the pipes V₁ all the water with which
they were filled. All this is accomplished with extreme quickness
thanks to the very heavy leaden plate which is fixed upon the platform S.
As soon as this platform is down the engineer pushes the handles Y,
X, V, and U rapidly and successively into their accustomed places,
following the order which we have just indicated, that is, from right to
This manoeuvre by replacing the apparatus in its former state
also allows the engineer to recommence indefinitely the same operations
and allows consequently the hydraulic press to recommence indefinitely
its work.
left.

page_text: If during the work the superintendent perceives that the manometer
placed at the side of the cock T indicates that the tension produced in
the interior of the worm A passes the limits that it had been thought.
proper to assign to it, he immediately pulls towards him first the
handle U and then the handle V. By means of this precaution all
danger of the apparatus bursting is immediately removed.
The superintendent can avail himself of the time which is necessary to.
the workman for substituting new substances upon the plate of the
hydraulic press in place of pressed or crushed matter by resupplying
with fuel the furnace of the hydro-thermic generator.
It will be remarked that no heat is lost during the time that the
worm A is empty, for all excess of heat that it has in this case absorbed
is by it entirely transferred to the oil which is made to enter it; which is
very advantageous as far as concerns the rapidity of the expansion of the
said oil.
It will also be remarked that as the peculiar working of the hydro-
thermic generator is limited almost to the action of drawing out and
pushing back the handles U, V, X, Y, the direction of this apparatus may,
in point of fact, be confided to an ordinary workman, and that consequently
there is no absolute need, as far as that goes, of a regular engineer.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim,—
First. Utilizing the force obtained by the expansion of liquids, especially
oil and other non-evaporable liquids under heat, this force being especially
suitable for increasing the efficiency of hydraulic presses, but also
applicable to other machinery.
Secondly. The arrangement of apparatus substantially as described and
shown in the accompanying Drawings whereby the force gencrated by
the expansion of non-evaporable liquids under heat may be applied to the
hydraulic press and other machines.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ferdinand Tommasi, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-one.
FERDINAND TOMMASI. (L.S.)