An Improved Mode of Applying Hydraulic Power, whereby Means are Provided for Economising and Generating such Power. and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, "3rd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept.. 1839.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mode of Applying Hydraulic Power, whereby Means
are Provided for Economising and Generating such Power. and
Apparatus therefor.
I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference, in general, to the application of hydraulic power
where the maximum force may be sub-divided; and, particularly, to lifts, cranes,
and the like, such as have to deal with loads necessitating and bringing about
different pressures in the lifting cylinder; i.e. such as have varying loads, or loads
capable of using, and, giving back, power. If the maximum load is always lifted
and no return load takes its place then my invention would be of no advantage.
The object of my invention is to produce a means and apparatus such as sha!!
use as little high-pressure water as possible, and which shall, specially, generate
power whenever the work to be performed permits it; and this automatically, as far
as possible.
The chief peculiarity of my invention is subdividing the lifting power into as
many sections as may be suitable (the greater the number of such the more the
saving) and using such only as are necessary for raising the load; and, specially,
(whilst running to the waste tank such sections only as are required to reverse the
motion and lower a load) causing all the water, as far as possible, to be restored
to the accumulator. By accumulator I mean any reservoir of power, be such the
supply pipes, or main. My apparatus may be designed to suit power of any
pressure-high or low.
My invention would be applied to a lift-say for an hotel or warehouse-as
follows; I connect the "long-stroked" lift cylinder with another of equal capacity
but "short-stroked," allowing the same water to flow in and out from one to the
other as usual. Then by continuing the "short-stroked" ram outwards and arranging
a third cylinder at its end, with its diam. suited to the accumulator pressure, the ram
of the lifting cylinder may be balanced. All this as usual, with valves for replacing
leakage, &c. &c.
On the ram working between the, so called, "short stroked cylinder" and the
balancing cylinder I arrange a cross head large enough to receive the thrusting-
heads of a series of rams which are clustered round the balancing, cylinder and
which have an equal stroke thereto. These rams may be of any diameter, as required,
and they may vary; and there may be any number. This cluster of cylinders is
either cast in one piece, or mounted on a strong plate, and attached to the "short
stroked cylinder" by strong bolts, or other frame work, so that all their strains may
be self-contained.
33
Suppose four actuating cylinders, Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4, to be arranged, then the
collective power of these must be able to overcome all friction in the apparatus and
thrust the "lifting ram
to the top of its stroke when loaded to the maximum.
If, however, this had to be raised without a load, in order to bring one down, then,
if No. 1 cylinder were designed to lift under these circumstances, none of the other
three cylinders (2, 3 & 4) need be used. In like manner for other loads, the
required number of cylinders need only be used. Cylinders 2, 3 and 4 are connected
to an open overhead-tank by independent pipes so as to suck water therefrom when
not supplied with power-water. The tank is elevated simply to ensure the water
lowing with ease and certainty.
Suppose now that No. 1 cylinder has thrust up the empty lift to any given height
and that it is there standing, with No. 1 cylinder, of course, full of water: since

page_text: however cylinders Nos. 2, 3, & 4, such water from the tank, these will be also full.
Suppose further that the maximum load is now put on, and that it is to be lowered ;-
(such a load, apart from friction, must be capable of producing on the whole four
cylinders a pressure equal to that required to raise it). If, now, cylinders 2, 3 and 4
are given a chance of communicating with the accumulator and No. 1 be allowed to
discharge itself into the open tank, then the power-water generated in cylinders 2, 3
and 4 will be passed into the accumulator ready for use.
For lowering lighter loads a, proportionately, greater number of cylinders must
discharge into the tank.
The tank should be fairly large, and, if the average of the work done is lifting, it
must have an overflow; but if the average is done whilst lowering then a supply pipe
will be wanted, as water will be drawn off and passed into the accumulator.
The economy consists (1) in filling, when lifting, with power-water, such only of
the actuating cylinders as the load requires, leaving the others to take their water
from the tank; and, (2) when lowering, emptying into the tank only such as are
necessary, causing the others to discharge into the accumulator.
I do not bind myself to any special way of subdividing (nor as to the number of
subdivisions) the power and arranging the cylinders so long as they can be centred,
or otherwise clustered and grouped to work together collectively, singly, or in any
fractional groups, as required.
The valves by which I control the whole apparatus attend to the following points:-
(1) they apply, when lifting, the power-water to the actuating cylinders in a series,
one after another until the proper power is obtained; and (2), in lowering, they pass
as much water as possible to the accumulator, whilst throwing into the tank such only
as must be got rid of to allow the hoist to descend.
Each actuating cylinder has its own valve but the one directly connected with the
starting gear for lifting is that of No. 1. This valve forms the first of the series and
its movements being controlled by the attendant all the others are automatically put
into action, as required, by the varying of the pressure in the lifting-cylinder due to
the different loads. This automatic action of the valves is an important part of my
apparatus as the power is thrown on with ease and certainty.
In order to deal with the whole range of conditions when lowering, the necessary
valves can be brought under control so as to regulate the discharge into the tank.
The chief peculiarity of the main valve (No. 1 cylinder) is, that, in addition to
laying on the power-water to its cylinder, it also throws the same into the valve-chests
of the others; Nos. 2, 3, and 4 in the present instance. Each of these latter valves
has a piston mounted on a prolongation of the valve-spindle working in a separate
cylinder. Each valve has also a spring which tends to keep its piston up to the far
end of its stroke and thus to keep shut the valve port between its own cylinder and
the accumulator; this leaves the other cylinder-ports open for drawing or discharging
from and to the tank. Each piston has the pressure from the lifting cylinder laid ou
to it, and, as this increases, the pistons are forced back in turn, in accordance with the
strength of their counter-springs, which are arranged in a series of different strengths
for this purpose.
Thus, say No. 1 main valve acting. on its cylinder causes a pressure in the lifting
cylinder of, say, 200 lbs.; then, when this is approximately reached the spring of
No. 2 is forced back and the two cylinders exert their pressure on the lifting cylinder;
then, when this is approximately reached (say 400 lbs.) No. 3 piston is forced back
against its spring, and so on thro' the series, until the load is lifted.
The cage of the lifting ram may thus start from the ground floor empty and may
gather loads as it goes up from floor to floor bringing into play, one by one, the series
of cylinders, by reason of the valve springs being gradually overcome, until the
maximum is reached. The top landing being reached, the main-valve would be
automatically closed, by the last portion of the ascent, and it would thus shut off from
the other valve-boxes of the series the supply of power-water, these valves themselves
remaining open as before.
Suppose now, it is required to lower a maximum load-an economical event with

page_text: my apparatus, the attendant manipulates valve No. 1 50 that its cylinder discharges
into the tank then, granting the proper proportion of No. 1 cylinder, the contents of
cylinders Nos. 2, 3, & 4 are discharged into the accumulator.
prefer to pass this
discharge into the accumulator thro' the main valve which is arranged with suitable
ports for this purpose.
Suppose however that at some floor on the way down a portion of the load to be
removed sufficient to lower the pressure in the lifting cylinder so that the last and
strongest of the valve springs is able to assert itself, then that valve (No. 4) would
be reversed and the contents of its cylinder discharged into the waste water tank.
This takes place at the time when the descending weight can no longer force against
the accumulator. If other portions of the load are removed then the other valves,
one by one, will reverse themselves. Suppose all the weight to be taken off-then
valves 2, 3, & 4, would leave their waste ports open to the tank, and they would be
ready to take their water from the tank at the following stroke,-supposing always
that they were not acted upon so as to make them take power-water.
In case a rapid start downwards were wanted with an empty cage, or when a
partially loaded one has happened to establish an equilibrium that has to be got rid of,
the attendant, or porter, in the cage, pulls the valve gear further in the lowering
direction and thus another valve is thrown over so as to discharge its cylinder into the
tank. This by gear arranged for the purpose.
Any mode of balancing the valve pistons may be resorted to, weighted levers may
take the place of the beforementioned springs, or, as may probably prove most
beneficial, pressure rams of different diameters may be applied and be acted on by
the accumulator.
From what has been described it must be understood that a crane, or an assortment
of cranes, lifting and lowering various loads could be made to generate power for
itself or themselves; thus, suppose goods to be lifted from a staging and afterwards
lowered below the level of such staging, then part of the work would generate power,
proportionately, for the other part.
This being once explained numerous cases where power could be both absorbed and
generated will present themselves as suitable for the exercise of my invention.
Another example of the application of my mode is as follows;-where the "lifting-
cylinder" has what may be termed a "short-stroke" it may itself be subdivided by being
replaced by the series of cylinders which I have termed the "actuating cylinders,'
and these may act direct on the cage, or on to the lifting crosshead. In connection
with this, another cylinder, for governing pressures, which gives and takes pressures
equivalent to such as would have been produced in the "lifting cylinder "-had there
been only one is introduced for the purpose of passing such pressures forward to
the automatic valves.
1008
.
WM. SNOWDON,
9, Beckett's Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks, Agent for the Applicant.
Сер рпя ста
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mode of Applying Hydraulic Power, whereby Means
are Provided for Economising and Generating such Power, and
Apparatus therefor.
I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the county of York,
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 has reference, in general, to the application of hydraulic power where
the maximum force may be subdivided; and, particularly, to lifts, cranes, and the
like, such as have to deal with loads necessitating and bringing about different
pressures in the lifting cylinder; i.e. such as have varying loads, or loads capable of

page_text: using and giving back power. If the maximum load is always lifted and no return
load takes its place then my invention would be of no advantage.
The object of my invention is to produce a means and apparatus such as shall use as
little high-pressure or power water as possible, and which shall, specially, generate
power whenever the work to be performed permits it; and this automatically as far as
possible.
The chief peculiarity of my invention is subdividing the lifting power into as many
sections as may be suitable (the greater the number of such the more opportunities
of-effecting a saving) and using such only as are necessary for raising the load;
& specially whilst running to the waste tank such sections only as are required to
reverse the motion and lower a load-causing all the water, as far as possible, to be
restored to the accumulator. By accumulator I mean any reservoir of power; such
may be in some cases tho supply pipes. My apparatus may be designed to suit power
of any pressure-high or low.
In order to explain the invention fully I have annexed four sheets of drawing
on which the same letters refer to the same parts or their equivalents in all the
figures.
Fig. 1. is an elevation of a general arrangement of an hydraulic lift in which my
invention is embodied.
Fig. 2. is a corresponding plan.
Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged details of the main valve; fig. 3. being a plan
showing the ports and exits in the lower portion of the valve box; fig. 4. a sectional
elevation through the valve and one set of ports on the line XX, XX; fig. 5. is a
general side elevation, sectioned so as to show the valve and the other ports on the
line Y Y, Y Y; and fig. 6. is a plan of the valve.
Fig. 7. is a side elevation of one of the series of automatic valves & their gear; the
valve and distributing ports, & also the small auxiliary counterbalancing cylinder,
being in section.
Fig. 8. is an elevation of an apparatus, embodying my invention, in the form of a
direct acting hydraulic lift with a short stroke.
Fig. 9. is an elevation for illustrating the application of a similar nest of short
stroked rams acting on a chain coiled round pullies, as usual for crane-work.
My invention would be applied to a lift-say for an hotel or warehouse-as
follows; see figs. 1 & 2. I connect the "long-stroked " lift cylinder A (shown broken
off for want of room) with another, B, of equal cubical capacity for water but "short
stroked," allowing the same water to flow in and out from one to the other, as
usual say through the pipe A. Then by continuing the "short stroked" ram B¹
outwards and arranging a third cylinder at its end, with its diam. suited to the
accumulator pressure, the ram of the lifting cylinder may be balanced, almost,
but not so much as to prevent its descending quietly. All this as usual, with
valves and pipes-not shown-for replacing leakage, &c. &c.
On the ram B working between the short stroked cylinder B and the balancing
cylinder CI arrange a crosshead B spreading out far enough to receive the thrusting
heads of a series of rams which are clustered round the balancing cylinder and
which have an equal stroke thereto. These rams may be of any and various diameters
as required, & there may be any number of them. This cluster of cylinders is either
cast in one piece with, or mounted on, a strong plate, as at C, and attached to the
short stroked cylinder by strong bolts as at C³ & C, &. (or other framing may be
arranged) so that all the strains passed forward may be self contained.
Suppose for sake of example-four actuating cylinders Nos. I, II, III, & IV, to
be arranged, then the collective power of these must be able to overcome all friction
in the apparatus and thrust the partly balanced lifting ram A' to the top of its
stroke when the cage is loaded to the maximum. If, however, this (the lifting ram)
had to be raised without a load, in order to bring one down, then if No. I cylinder
were designed to lift under these circumstances, none of the other three cylinders (II,
III & IV) need he used. In like manner for other loads the numbers of cylinders
required to produce the necessary power need only be used. Cylinders II III & IV

page_text: are so connected that they can suck water from an open overhead tank D when
not supplied with power-water. The tank may be elevated to ensure the water
flowing with ease & certainty.
Suppose now that No. I cylinder has thrust up the empty lift with power-water to
any given height & that it is there standing, with No. I cylinder, of course, full of
water since however cylinders No. II, III, and IV can suck water from the tank-
and their rams move with the crosshead B-these will also be full. Suppose further
that the maximum load is now put on, and that it is to be lowered; such a load,
apart from friction, must be capable of producing on the whole four cylinders a
pressure equal to that required to raise it, (the maximum load). If, now, cylinders II,
III, and IV are given a chance of communicating with the accumulator and No. I. be
allowed to discharge itself into the open tank, then the power-water generated in
cylinders II III & IV will be passed into the accumulator ready for use at a future
time.
For lowering lighter loads a proportionately greater number of cylinders must be
caused to lischarge into the tank.
The tank should be fairly large, and, if the average of the work done is lifting, it
must have an overflow; but, if the average is done whilst lowering then a supply
pipe will be wanted, as water will be drawn off and passed into the accumulator.
The economy consists (1) in filling, when lifting, with power-water, such only of
the actuating cylinders I. II. III. IV. (or more) as the load requires, leaving the
others to take their water from the tank; and (2.) when lowering, emptying into the
tank only such as are necessary to allow the load to descend, causing the others to
discharge into the accumulator.
I do not bind myself to any special way of subdividing the power (nor as to the
number of subdivisions) nor as to arranging the cylinders so long as they can be
centred, or otherwise clustered and grouped to work together collectively, singly, or
in any fractional groups, as required.
:-
The valves by which I control the whole apparatus attend to the following points:
(1) they apply, when lifting, the power-water to the actuating cylinders in a series,
one after another, until the proper power is obtained; and (2), in lowering, they pass
as much water as possible to the accumulator whilst throwing into the tank such only
as must be got rid of to allow the hoist to descend.
Each actuating cylinder has its own valve, but the one directly connected with the
starting gear for lifting is that of No. I. This valve mounted in the valve-box V¹
forms the first of the series and its movements being controlled by the attendant-see
the usual ropes G running on the pulley G' fixed on the shaft G2-all the others are
automatically put into action, as required, by the weight of different loads. This
automatic action of the valves in an important part of my apparatus as the power is
thrown on with ease and certainty.
In order to deal with the whole range of conditions the necessary valves are also
when lowering brought under control so as to automatically regulate the discharge
into the tank.
The main valve, working in the valve-box V1 which is the only one receiving a
direct supply of power-water, controls the supply for two sets of ports. In fig. 5, this
valve, H, is shown actuated by an accentric G' mounted on the Hoist Regulating
Shaft G whose rod engages with the valve rod H². This position of the valve (with
its recessed portion H) is here such that the pipe, P₁, communicating with No. 1.
cylinder, is open to the exhaust port Q¹ which leads to the pipe Q & communicates
with the tank, D.
Another small port R-shown open-leads to the pipe R, which communicates
with the series of auxiliary counterbalancing cylinders attached to the ends of the
automatic valves-rods, for a purpose afterwards to be described. When the valve is
thrown into mid-gear all these three ports are covered and when thrown quite over
the valve connects R' to Q' and opens P¹ to the power-water. The other half of the
valve, see section Fig. 4, governs two ports S¹ & S, which both lead to the pipe S.
In mid-position both these ports are covered but when the valve is thrown completely

page_text: across in either direction, one or other of the ports is open. The pipe S leads the
power water to each valve-box VII VIII VIV &c. (however many there may be) of the
automatic valves.
Each of these latter valves-complete with the necessary gear-is coupled to its
respective actuating cylinder; for instance VII connects with No. II, VII with
No. 1II, and IV to No. IV. as in figs. 1 & 2; the pipes P2, P³, P¹ being
respectively arranged for this purpose.
Referring to fig. 7. (which for the sake of example may be taken as the automatic-
gear belonging to No. II cylinder) A2 is a small pipe connecting up to the pipe A,
which thus leads into the balancing cylinder T the pressure (whatever that may
be) existing in the long stroked cylinder A (the same as in B). This pressure acts
on the hydraulic ram U and so through the valve rod W2, W2, against the spring X³.
The termination of this valve rod is reduced in size so as to receive a few pounds
pressure from the bydraulic cylinder Y whenever the power-water is admitted
therein. The strength of the springs X and X3 and X (these latter belong to the
other automatic valve gears VIII & VIV) each vary as explained hereafter; suffice it
here to say that so long as the spring X can assert itself it keeps the valve Z²
thrown over to the far side so that the pipe P (by means of the ports p and g) is
in communication with the exhaust pipe, Q, as shown in the drawing.
When, however the pressure in the pipe A, causes the ram to advance and to
compress the spring X, then the valve, Z, being pushed over opens the port p and
puts the pipe P2, in direct communication with the pipe S. It must be noted in
passing that whenever power-water is admitted into it assists the spring to push
back the valve again, but at other times when Y2 is in communication with the
exhaust the spring X2 acts alone. The bed-plate e, e, is common to all the valves
and they all exhaust downwards into a common channel, Q, which leads up by the
pipe to the tank D. The springs X &c. are all adjustable, by the nut shown,
which works on the screwed rod. From what has been explained it will be understood
that as the pressure rises, in the lifting cylinder A, the rams U2 &c. will be forced
back in turn; U having the weakest spring will go over first, afterwards U³ and
then U and vice versa when the pressure falls.
Thus, say No. I cylinder's main valve, VI, acting on its cylinder causes a pressure
in the lifting cylinder A, of, say 200 lbs. then, when this is approximately reached the
spring of No. II is forced back and the two cylinders exert their pressure on the
lifting cylinder; then when this is approximately reached (say 400 lbs.) No. III ram,
U³ is forced back against its spring, and so on through the series, until the load is
lifted spring X taking nearly 600 lbs. to move it.
The cage of the lifting ram may thus start from the ground floor empty and
may gather loads as it goes up from floor to floor bringing into play, one by one, the
series of actuating cylinders, by reason of the valve springs X2 X3 X being gradually
overcome, until the maximum pressure is put on. The top landing being reached-
or any other at which the attendant stops the lift by actuating the gear-the main-
valve, VI, would be automatically closed, by the last portion of the ascent as usual,
and it would thus-in addition to closing its own port-shut off from the other
valve-boxes of the series the supply of power-water, these latter valves however
remaining open as before.
Suppose, now, it is required to lower a maximum load-an economical event with
my apparatus the attendant manipulates valve-gear VI so that its cylinder discharges
into the tank-in doing this he also opens up the communication to the accumulator
for the valve-boxes Vu &c. then, granting the proper proportion of No. I cylinder,
the contents of cylinders Nos. II III & IV are discharged into the accumulator.
I prefer to pass this discharge into the accumulator through the main valve VI
which is arranged with suitable ports for this purpose.
The way in which water from No. IV cylinder would be passed back may be taken
as an example. The pipe P (see P in fig. 7.) leads the power water then being
generated into the interior of the valve-box VIV (the valve of course being pushed
back out of the way by the pressure in T) from then it travels through the pipe S

page_text: and through the port S' to the interior of the valve chamber VI where it is in direct
communication with the accumulator F. (In passing it may be noted that by-pass
non-return valves might be arranged to pass power-water back to the accumulator
through shorter lengths of pipes, and a similar plan might be used in drawing water
from the tank to the cylinders II, III, & IV but as this has nothing to do with the
principle of the arrangement I have not complicated the drawings by showing them.)
Suppose however that at some floor on the way down a portion of the load is
removed, sufficient to lower the pressure in the lifting cylinder so that the last and
strongest of the valve springs is able to re-assert itself, then that valve (VI) would
be reversed and the contents of its cylinder discharged into the waste water tank.
This takes place at the time when the descending weight can no longer successfully
force against the accumulator. If other portions of the load are removed then the
other valves, one by one, will reverse themselves. Suppose all the weight to be taken
off, then, valves Vii, & I would leave their waste ports open to the tank, as shown
in fig. 7. and they would be ready to take their water from the tank at the following
stroke, supposing always that they were not acted upon so as to make them take
power-water.
When the valve gear VI of No. I cylinder is thrown over so as to exhaust its
contents into the tank, the valve, H, will be in the position shown in fig. 5 and the
port, R', will pass power water through the pipe R into the series of auxiliary hydraulic
counterbalancing cylinders Y &c. The effect will be thus ;-supposing 10 lbs. to be
the pressure put on, then, whereas it took a pressure, say, of 595 lbs. in cylinder A
to force back the spring, U now it will re-assert itself and reverse the valve whenever
In this case we have
the pressure falls to 605 lbs. ; and so with the other valves.
taken the pressures, when a cylinder gains another's help, to be 200, 400, and 600 lbs. ;
in rising the springs are pushed back at pressures such say as 195, 395 and 595 but
(with the auxiliary pressures given by the Y' &c. cylinders) in falling the cylinders
gain one another's interference when the pressure falls to 605, 405 and 205 lbs.
In case these auxiliary cylinders Y2 &c. were not fixed, then the valve gear worked
by the attendant after exhausting No. 1. cylinder would have to be made so that
the springs X2, 3, 4 could be assisted over either before or after any balance or neutral
pressure point stopped the cage. If in this case a rapid start downwards were
wanted with an empty cige, or when a partially loaded one has happened to establish
an equilibrium which would have to be got rid of, the attendant or porter, in the
cage, pulls the valve-gear further in the lowering direction and thus another valve
is thrown over so as to discharge its cylinder into the tank. This by gear arranged
for the purpose, such as levers acting on the valve rods.
Any suitable mode of balancing the valve rams U2, 3, & 4, may be resorted to,
weighted levers may take the place of the beforementioned springs, or as may
probably prove most beneficial, hydraulic pressure pistons of different diameters
may be applied and be acted on by the accumulator; and at the ends of these
pistons the 2, 3, & 4 cylinders could be arranged as at present.
From what has been described it must be understood that a crane, or an assort-
ment of cranes, lifting and lowering various loads could be made to generate power
for itself or themselves; thus suppose goods to be lifted from a staging and
afterwards lowered below the level of such staging, then part of the work would
generate power, proportionately, from the other part.
"
may
This being once explained numerous cases where power could be both absorbed
and generated will present themselves as suitable for the exercise of my invention.
Another example of the application of my mode is as follows:-Where the
". short stroke it
"lifting cylinder" has what may be termed a
itself be sub-
divided. by being replaced by the series of cylinders which I have termed the
"actuating cylinders," and these may act direct on the cage, or on to the lifting
crosshead. In connection with this, another cylinder, for governing pressures, which
gives & takes pressures equivalent to such as would have been produced in the
lifting cylinder "-had there been only one-is introduced for the purpose of
passing such pressures forward to the automatic valves.

page_text: '
The special extra details of such an arrangement as this last are shown on fig. 8.
A nest of five hydraulic cylinders, I, II, III, IV, V, is arranged, say, as in plan
fig. 8A. Here No. I shown as the first of the actuating cylinders might be arranged
as a semi-balancing cylinder. A corresponding nest of cylinders I II III IV & V
is arranged to act upon a cylinder B, and each corresponding pair of cylinders is
connected by pipes P1, P2 &c. Hence the pressure exerted by the lift will be
likewise represented in the cylinder B and from thence it will pass down the pipe A
to the hydraulic balancing-rams of the U2 series and so make the whole automatic as
in the previous example.
It must be understood that the B cylinder in this case need only be a small one,
provided all the rams, No. 1 &c., and the balancing cylinders of the U* series be all
proportionally smaller with the springs X2 &c. made to suit.
In fig. 8 certain pipes say for instance the power-water pipes of VI valve, & the
distributing pipes therefrom, are not shown; this to avoid complicating the drawing:
neither is the stopping & starting gear shown as any of the usual arrangements could
be applied to work valve VI.
Fig. 9. shows some of the special pipes of a similar group of 5 cylinders attached to
five valves coupling up the double nest of cylinders (the B nest not being shown).
A, as before, is the pipe leading in the pressure from B for working the automatic
valves. P¹ &c. being the pressure pipes.
In all the drawings the cylinders have been shown in a vertical position but this is
not necessary, arrangements can easily be made to place many of the nests in
horizontal positions.
The automatic valve rods require stops to bring them to rest as the exact positions
desired.
In figs. 1&2 the power-water is shown entering by the pipe E, which may be
fitted with a back pressure and stop valve say at E'; F is the well known accumulator
which must form a part of the plant (unless the main be used) for receiving back and
storing up any power-water that may be generated. The pipe É, which has a branch E³
which keeps the balancing cylinder C constantly in communication with the accumu
lator F, is carried forward and is coupled on to the top of the main-valve-box VI,
above the valve. From this main-valve-box a pipe makes the connection up to
No. 1 cylinder whilst an exhaust pipe Q, communicates with the tank D. The pipe R¹
as before stated regulates power-water in the auxiliary counterbalancing cylinders of
the series; and the pipe S communicates with the other valve boxes.
As before stated the pipe A leads the resulting pressures on to the U2 series
of rams.
In making such supplementary nest of cylinders as is necessary in such arrange-
ments as those shown in figs. 8. & 9. the last cylinder V₁ need not necessarily be
applied, as the pressure governed by the valve VV need only be sent to the actuating
cylinder V.
The balancing cylinder C, fig. 1, need not necessarily be arranged as a balancing
cylinder if inconvenient, as by my mode the water can, manifestly, be saved in
another way.
Although I have shown the auxiliary counterbalance, which assists the springs of
the X series to re-assert themselves, in the form of an additional hydraulic cylinder,
it must be understood that other equivalents may be used; for instance, additional
springs might be arranged which could be compressed either by the attendant or
otherwise so as to get the same result.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
(1.) The improved mode of applying bydraulic power, for dealing with variable
loads, whereby means are provided for automatically economising and-when the
circumstances permit-generating such power; consisting essentially of providing
a collection of hydraulic rams (or their equivalents) and arranging them so as to

page_text: be under the control of a series of valves automatically put into action by the
pressures resulting from the weight of the variable loads after the attendant (or
any equivalent gear) has operated the first valve.
(2.) The apparatus for applying hydraulic power, for dealing with variable loads,
whereby means are provided for automatically economising and-when the circum-
stances permit-generating such power; consisting essentially of a collection of
hydraulic rams (or their equivalents) so arranged as to be under the control of a
series of valves automatically put into action by the pressures resulting from the
weight of the variable loads after the attendant (or any equivalent gear) has operated
the first valve; substantially as described herein and shown on the drawings, with
special reference to figs. 1. & 2.
(3.) The apparatus for applying hydraulic power as described in claim 2, when,
by reason of the direct action of the actuating-rams (or their equivalents), a supple-
mentary nest of cylinders has to be called into play to govern the automatic valves;
substantially as described herein & shown on the drawings, with special reference to
figs. 8 and 9.
.
(4.) The application of an auxiliary counterbalancing arrangement (hydraulic or
otherwise) in connection with the series of automatic valves, whereby the springs
(or their equivalents), which are adjusted to give way, & actuate the valves, at
pressures, when lifting, below the neutral or dead points (such as are represented
by the full power of each hydraulic cylinder) are enabled to re-assert themselves,
and alter the valves, when lowering, at pressures above the said neutral pressure
points, thereby making the valves automatic both in lifting & lowering; substantially
as described herein and shown on the drawings, with special reference to fig. 7.
(5.) The combination of parts forming one of a serios of automatic valves, as set
out in fig. 7, consisting of a balancing cylinder T, a valve Z³, a balancing spring X²,
and an auxiliary counterbalancing cylinder, or other equivalent gear, Y².
(6.) The combination of parts forming the main valvo for stopping and starting as
set out in figs. 3 4, 5, and 6 substantially as described herein. .
Datel this 1st day of July 1889
WM. SNOWDON,
9, Beckett's Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks, Agent for the Applicant.