IMPROVE- MENTS IN HYDRAULIC BOLT-MAKING MACHINERY AND IN PUMPING APPARATUS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Betts Brown, of Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, Engineer, for the Invention of "“IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HYDRAULIC BOLT-MAKING MACHINERY AND IN PUMPING APPARATUS
"
Scaled the 23rd October 1874, and dated the 14th August 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Betts Brown
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th August 1874.
I, ANDREW BETTS BROWN, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC BOLT-MAKING MACHINERY AND IN PUMPING
}
APPARATUS SUITABLE FOR ACTUATING SUCH MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in hydraulic bolt-
making machinery and in pumping apparatus suitable for actuating such
machinery.

page_text: The bolt-making machine consists of a hydraulic cylinder supported
on two wrought-iron columns. In this cylinder works a double-acting
plunger or ram fitted in the usual manner with double cup
leathers or
other suitable packing, and having an annular space underneath con-
stantly open to the water pressure, the larger area above being supplied
with pressure water by an ordinary slide or other valve. In the bottom
of this plunger is fixed the die, having a female recess of the form of
bolt required, the depth of recess being at least double that of the
desired thickness of the head of the bolt. Beyond the head of this
female recess a hole is bored into the inside of the ram, into which a
steel push-out bolt is fitted. On the upward stroke of the ram this
push-out bolt abuts against a fixed stop which passes through a stuffing
box or cup leather in the upper part of the ram, and is attached to the
fixed cover of the cylinder. This push-out bolt is movable and occupies
a recess in the die when the plunger descends. It has also a small centre
point for the purpose of centreing the head of the bolt, and at its other
end a collar is fitted to prevent it dropping out of the die. Immediately
under the plunger and die works a wheel having six male dies arranged
radially round its periphery bored internally to the required diameter of
bolt. These dies are made of the exact form externally of the upper
die, which they fit in the manner of a piston, and they project beyond
the die holder something more than the thickness of the bolt. The die
holder has fitted into it a push-out bolt having a centre point similar to
that of the upper die, which push-out bolt rests at its lower end upon a
semi-fixed shaft, in the centre of which is an excentric made in one piece
with it. This excentric shaft is carried in strong bearing castings
forming the foundation of the machine, and through which the wrought-
iron pillars supporting the hydraulic cylinder pass, being secured by
screw nuts above and below. The wheel containing the dies is made to
revolve by a worm wheel fixed on its side, into which works a worm
with shaft running in bearings on the foundation casting. This shaft is
made to revolve by any suitable means, but it has applied between the
power and the worm a friction clutch. Inside the worm wheel rim are
formed a series of notches or ratchet teeth corresponding to the centre
of each die, into which notches a lever or paul is caused to drop by
means of a spring or weight. This lever or paul radiates in a quadrant
attached to the foundation of the machine, having a detent notch into
which a rod falls similar to that of a locomotive reversing lever. When
the worm causes the die wheel to revolve the first notch comes in contact

page_text: with the lever, holding the male die directly under the upper or female
die, the male die having been previously filled with a rod of iron at a
white heat. Water is then admitted to the top of the hydraulic cylinder,
causing it to descend, and carrying with it the push-out bolt until the
lower die enters the upper one, when the metal is imprisoned and caused
to flow into the exact form of the female recess. By exhausting the
water from the hydraulic cylinder the constant pressure on the annular
space raises the plunger, and the push-out bolt, coming in contact with
the fixed stop, holds the bolt while the female die rises off it. By with-
drawing the detent the friction clutch brings another die into position
with its rod of heated iron, while the excentric on the semi-fixed shaft
throws the finished bolt out.
The semi-fixed shaft has a worm segment keyed on, into which works
a worm running in bearings on the foundation casting, and which is
actuated by hand. By turning the worm and shaft the excentric is
made to revolve, and thus longer or shorter bolts may be produced
without altering the length of the push-out bolt.
The pumping apparatus which I prefer to employ relates to and is in
general accordance with an hydraulic apparatus, for which a Patent was
granted to me dated 8th January 1869, No. 61. In the Specification of
the said Patent I described apparatus for obtaining water pressure by
means of steam and hydraulic rams of different areas, by which a high
pressure of water may be maintained and constantly supplied for the
purpose of conveying power, which apparatus I now call a steam
accumulator.
My present improvements are that I employ a new means of actuating
the slide valve of a direct-acting engine, and that the steam and
hydraulic cylinders of the steam accumulator form respectively the
foundations for the steam and hydraulic cylinders of the pumping
engines.
The improved valve gear consists of a hydraulic cylinder fitted with a
double-acting piston secured to the steam cylinder of the pumping
engine, the rod of which piston passes through a stuffing box at one
end directly into the steam valve chest of the pumping engine cylinder, .
the rod forming the valve spindle and laying hold of the main slide
valve. The other end of the piston rod passes through a stuffing box
into the atmosphere. This hydraulic cylinder has two extreme admission

page_text: ports formed in it at each end of the cylinder, and which terminate in a
valve face having an exhaust port in the centre, which ports are covered
by an ordinary slide valve working in a small valve chest.
The slide valve rod passes through stuffing boxes at both ends of the
valve chest'; at the end opposite to the steam slide valve of the pumping
engine it is attached to a lever by suitable joints and links. This lever
has its fulcrum attached to the valve casing or any other suitable place
on the pumping engine. The other and longer end of the lever is by
links or other suitable means connected to the piston rod of the pumping
engine. This lever is so proportioned as to give the required short travel 1
of the hydraulic slide valve from the greater travel of the piston rod of
the steam pumping engine.
The hydraulic valve chest is connected by a pipe to the delivery valve
of the pump, the flow of water into which is regulated by an ordinary
tap or other appliance.
The steam cylinder of the pumping engine, hydraulic cylinder, and
suction and delivery valves are constructed in the well known and usual
manner.
1
By the use of an inelastic fluid to work the auxiliary cylinder for
propelling a slide valve of a direct-acting steam pumping engine greater 2
certainty of action and steadiness are obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Andrew Betts Brown in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th February 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANDREW 2
BETTS BROWN, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty- 3
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Andrew Betts Brown, Her special

page_text: .
license that I, the said Andrew Betts Brown, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Andrew Betts
Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
5 thereafter 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 HYDRAULIC BOLT-MAKING MACHINERY AND IN
PUMPING APPARATUS SUITABLE FOR ACTUATING SUCH MACHINERY," upon the
O condition (amongst others) that I, the said Andrew Betts Brown, 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
5 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 Andrew Betts Brown, 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 thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is
to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in hydraulic bolt-
making machinery, and in pumping apparatus suitable for actuating
such machinery.
The bolt-making machine consists of a hydraulic cylinder supported
on two wrought-iron columns. In this cylinder works a double-acting
plunger or ram fitted in the usual manner with double cup leathers or
other suitable packing, and having an annular space underneath con-
stantly open to the water pressure, the larger area above being supplied
with pressure water by an ordinary slide or other valve. In the bottom
of this plunger is fixed the die having a female recess of the form of
bolt required, the depth of recess being at least double that of the
desired thickness of the head of the bolt. Beyond the head of this
female recess a hole is bored into the inside of the ram, into which a
stecl push-out bolt is fitted. On the upward stroke of the ram the
push-out bolt abuts against, a fixed stop which passes through a stuffing

page_text: box or cup leather in the upper part of the ram, and is attached to the
fixed cover of the cylinder. This push-out bolt is moveable, and occupies
a recess in the die when the plunger descends. It has also a small
centre point for the purpose of centreing the head of the bolt, and at its
other end a collar is fitted to prevent it dropping out of the die. Imme-
diately under the plunger and die works a wheel having six male dies
arranged radially round its periphery, bored internally to the required
diameter of the bolt. These dies are made of the exact form externally
of the upper die, which they fit in the manner of a piston, and they
project beyond the die holder something more than the thickness of the
bolt. The die holder has fitted into it a push-out bolt having a centre
point similar to that of the upper die, which push-out bolt rests at its
lower end upon a semi-fixed shaft, in the centre of which is an excentric
made in one piece with it. This excentric shaft is carried in strong
bearing castings forming the foundation of the machine, and through
which the wrought-iron pillars supporting the hydraulic cylinder pass,
being secured by screw nuts above and below. The wheel containing
the dies is made to revolve by a worm wheel fixed on its side, into which
works a worm with shaft running in bearings on the foundation casting.
This shaft is made to revolve by any suitable means, but it has applied
between the power and the worm a friction clutch. Inside the worm
wheel rim are formed a series of notches or ratchet teeth corresponding
to the centre of each die, into which notches a lever or pawl is caused to
drop by means of a spring or weight. This lever or pawl radiates in a
quadrant attached to the foundation of the machine, having a detent
notch into which a rod falls, similar to that of a locomotive reversing
lever. When the worm causes the die wheel to revolve the first notch
comes in contact with the lever, holding the male die directly under the
upper or female die, the male die having been previously filled with a
rod of iron at a white heat. Water is then admitted to the top of the
hydraulic cylinder, causing it to descend, and carrying with it the push-
out bolt until the lower die enters the upper one, when the metal is
imprisoned and caused to flow into the exact form of the female recess.
By exhausting the water from the hydraulic cylinder the constant
pressure on the annular space raises the plunger, and the push-out bolt
coming in contact with the fixed stop holds the bolt while the female
die rises off it. By withdrawing the detent the friction clutch brings
another dic into position with its rod of heated iron, while the excentric
on the semi-fixed shaft throws the finished bolt out.

page_text: The semi-fixed shaft has a worm segment keyed on, into which works
a worm running in bearings in the foundation casting, and which is
actuated by hand. By turning the worm and shaft the eccentric is
made to revolve, and thus longer or shorter bolts may be produced with-
out altering the length of the push-out bolt.
•
The pumping apparatus which I prefer to employ relates to and is in
general accordance with an hydraulic apparatus for which a Patent was
granted to me, dated 8th January 1869, No. 61. In the Specification of
the said Patent I described apparatus for obtaining water pressure by
means of steam and hydraulic rams of different areas, by which a high
pressure of water may be maintained and constantly supplied for the
purpose of conveying power, which apparatus I now call a steam
accumulator.
My present improvements are that I employ a new means of actuating
the slide valve of a direct-acting engine, and that the steam and
hydraulic cylinders of the steam accumulator form respectively the
foundations for the steam and hydraulic cylinders of the pumping
engines.
The improved valve gear consists of a hydraulic cylinder fitted with
a double-acting piston secured to the steam cylinder of the pumping
engine, the rod of which piston passes through a stuffing box at one end
directly into the steam valve chest of the pumping engine cylinder, the
rod forming the valve spindle and laying hold of the main slide valve.
The other end of the piston rod passes through a stuffing box into the
atmosphere. This hydraulic cylinder has two extreme admission ports
formed in it at each end of the cylinder, and which terminate in a valve
face having an exhaust port in the centre, which ports are covered by an
ordinary slide valve working in a small valve chest.
The slide valve rod passes through stuffing boxes at both ends of the
valve chest; at the end opposite to the steam slide valve of the pumping
engine it is attached to a lever by suitable joints and links. This lever
has its fulcrum attached to the valve casing or any other suitable place
on the pumping engine. The other and longer end of the lever is by
links or other suitable means connected to the piston rod of the pumping
engine. This lever is so proportioned as to give the required short travel
of the hydraulic slide valve from the greater travel of the piston rod of
the steam pumping engine.

page_text: machine, Fig. 1 being a vertical section; Fig. 2, a vertical elevation; and
Fig. 3, a plan with hydraulic cylinder removed.
Sheet No. 2 shews a vertical elevation of pumping apparatus with
improved valve gear shewn in vertical section.
In Sheet No. 1 A is the hydraulic cylinder supported on two columns
B, B; C is the hydraulic ram fitted with double cup leathers E, E, E, E,
F being the annular space constantly open to the water pressure. In
the bottom of this plunger or ram C is fixed the bolt die G, which has a
recess H of the form of bolt head required (shewn in dotted lines); I is
the push-out bolt, which when the ram C is at the top of its stroke abuts
against a fixed stop J which is attached securely to the cylinder cover,
and passes through a cup leather in the ram O at K, and thus securing
the water in the cylinder. This push-out bolt occupies a recess L in the
die G when the plunger or ram C descends. Immediately under the die
G is a wheel M, M, made in two halves vertically, which carries six or
more male or projecting dies N, N, N, &c., set in cups 0, 0, 0, &c., the
object of the cups being to secure rigidity of action between the two dies
G and N. The recess H in the upper die G is of the exact form of the
lower or projecting die N, into which the latter fits in the manner of a
piston in its cylinder. The depth of the recess H is usually made some-
what more than double that of the thickness of the head of the bolt to
be made, and the lower die projects somewhat more than the thickness
of the bolt head. In each of the lower dies N, N, &c., and placed in
their centre cavity, is a push-out bolt P having a centre point at one
extremity, and at the other it rests on an excentric Q which is formed

page_text: on the shaft R, R, which is semi-fixed in bearings on the foundation
castings S, S, into which the wrought-iron columns B, B, are secured by
nuts or other suitable means. The die wheel M is made to revolve by a
worm T, and wheel U, the worm being propelled either by a hand wheel
or a belt pulley, as shewn, which must be provided with a friction clutch
so as to allow it to slip. The wheel U is securely attached to the die
wheel M. The worm T is mounted on a shaft which runs in bearings
attached to the foundation castings S, S. The inside of the worm wheel
U has six or more ratchet teeth V, V, V, &c., corresponding in position
and number to the centre of each die N, N, N, &c. Into these ratchet
teeth a lever or pawl W is pressed or pulled by a weight or spring, and
at its other extremity it has a handle fitted with a detent X and
quadrant Y similar to that of a locomotive reversing lever.
The action of the machine is as follows:-Rods of iron cut off to the
desired length are made white hot and introduced into the lower dies N.
The detent X is released when the lever W is disengaged from the first
tooth V. The die wheel then revolves till the next die filled with
heated iron comes under the upper die. It is there held by the lever W
coming in contact with the next tooth V. Pressure water is then
admitted to the larger area of the ram C, when the die G descends,
compressing the hot iron, and finally boxing it into the recess H, causing
it to flow into the desired form of head. By exhausting the water from
the cylinder and releasing the detent X, the same operation may be
repeated on the next piece of heated iron. As the formed bolts move
round the excentric Q, they are thrown out by the push-out stop P. To
make bolts of different lengths within limits of one inch the semi-fixed
shaft R is made to revolve by the worm wheel Z, to which it is secured,
being acted upon by the worm Y¹, and any suitable hand wheel.
Although I prefer water pressure acting on a ram for forming the bolt
head, yet it is obvious that a similar force can be attained by an
excentric similar to that of a well known class of rivetting machines,
but as the iron is imprisoned in the die and has no means of escape, the
excentric and its shaft or the die wheel herein-before described must be
made to yield after the required pressure is given to prevent fracture of
the machine.

page_text: water. A piston B working in the cylinder is attached to the ram Û
which passes through a stuffing box into the hydraulic cylinder D. The
pressure of steam on the piston B is thus transmitted through the ram
to the water, the pressure on which will be to the pressure in the steam
cylinder in the inverse ratio of the sectional area of the ram to the area
of the piston B.
water. A piston B working in the cylinder is attached to the ram
which passes through a stuffing box into the hydraulic cylinder D. The
pressure of steam on the piston B is thus transmitted through the ram
to the water, the pressure on which will be to the pressure in the steam
cylinder in the inverse ratio of the sectional area of the ram to the area
of the piston B.
The steam cylinder E of the pumping engine has its foundation on the
steam accumulator cylinder A, and is controlled by an ordinary slide
valve F.
The
pump G is of the bucket and plunger type, and has its foundation 1
on the hydraulic cylinder D, its ram or plunger being formed by a con-
tinuation of the piston rod of the engine.
The valves H, H, are of the ordinary description, and are placed, as
shewn, on the top of the pump.
The slide valve F is actuated by a piston working in a small hydraulic 1
cylinder J. This piston is moved by water under pressure conveyed
through the pipe K from the accumulator, and its supply to the
cylinder J is governed by a small slide valve L, which is worked by a
lever M actuated from the main piston rod at N.
When the piston in the cylinder E arrives near the end of its stroke 2
the slide valve Lis moved so as to admit water to the cylinder J,
and move the main slide valve. The piston then makes its return stroke,
when the same operation is repeated, and a continuous reciprocation is
kept up.
C
Steam is supplied to the engine through the pipe O having a stop 2
valve for its regulation, and a small stop valve on the pipe K controls
the supply of water for working the valve L. The outflow pipe from
this valve has a cock at P, which is shut when the accumulator is fully
charged by the piston B pushing out the rod R, and the steam pipe O
being simultaneously covered by the piston, the engine stops, but starts 3
again as soon as piston B moves away, the cock P being reopened by a
weight.
By taking advantage of the large steam cylinder of the accumulator
with its water cylinder as a foundation for the pumping engine, whether
of the single or double cylinder arrangement, considerable economy in 3

page_text: construction is effected, and the pipe connections are simpler, and less
circuitous.
The use of an auxiliary hydraulic cylinder to actuate the slide valve
of pumping engines, as herein-before described, has also the great
advantage of steadiness, which cannot be obtained in the usual steam-
moved valves, and therefore the extent of travel of the piston and pump
ram of the engine can be regulated to the greatest nicety by the valve K.
Although I prefer this direct-acting engine for working bolt machines
in other applications of such pumping machinery where larger water
power is required, I make use of the usual and well-known form of.
double cylinder pumping engines with crank and fly wheel, which I
build on the top of the steam accumulator, as shewn in Sheet No. 3 of
the Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of engine and steam accumulator; and '
Fig. 2, a half cross section through one cylinder and accumulator
cylinder, the other half shewing an end elevation of the other
cylinder.
In Fig. 1 A, A, are the steam cylinders of a pumping engine of the
ordinary well-known- construction, B being the pump with its usual
valves C, C, C; D is the steam cylinder of the steam accumulator,
which has feet cast upon it on the under side at E, E, so that it may
rest horizontally, as shewn, or may be placed upright on a secure wall
foundation. On the upper part of the steam cylinder flat facings are
formed at F, F, to which the feet of the pumping engine cylinders A, A,:
are securely attached. The steam cylinders A, A, are bolted together, so as
to have one common steam chest and steam and exhaust pipes G, H. .
The steam passage or pipe G passes directly into the side of the accu-
mulator cylinder D, to the facing I of which it is securely bolted, and thus
forms an additional fastening to the steam cylinder. A regulated valve
of ordinary construction is fitted to the steam pipe G at K. The pump B
with its valves are supported in wrought-iron pillars L, which in
turn are carried by snugs or brackets M, M, cast on the accumulator
cylinder D. The crank shaft, fly wheel, &c. are run in bearings N,
shewn partly in dotted lines, which bearings are supported by plummer
blocks or brackets securely attached to the foundation casting O, which
embraces the hydraulic cylinder P of the accumulator, this cylinder
being shewn broken for convenience of Drawing. The steam enters the
.

page_text: accumulator at Q, and leaves by the exhaust pipe H. The water enters
the suction pipe R, and passes into the accumulator by the delivery
pipe S, and from thence to the bolt machines or other apparatus by the
main pipe T. In this pumping engine the steam is automatically con-
trolled by the piston of the accumulator steam cylinder, being pumped t
up until its packing ring closes the steam pipe or branch G, as already
described..
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the exact details herein described; but what I claim 1
is,―
First. Constructing bolt-making machines in such manner that the
head is moulded in a hollow die subjected to a steady and regular water
or other pressure in conjunction with a corresponding projecting die in
the manner of a piston, both having push-out bolts and other arrange-
ments for the production of perfectly parallel sides on the head of the
bolt, substantially as herein-before described, and shewn in Drawings,
Sheet No. 1.
Second. I claim the use of a hydraulic cylinder, supplied with pressure
water for the purpose of working the slide valve of the pumping engine
cylinder, substantially as herein-before described, and shewn in Drawing,
Sheet No. 2.
Third. I claim utilising the steam and water cylinders of the steam
accumulator as a foundation or bed for pumping engines, substantially
as herein-before set forth, and described in Drawings, Sheets Nos. 2
and 3.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Betts Brown, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of February, in