IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR STAMPING ORES AND OTHER HARD SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Willoughby, William Willoughby, Joseph
Willoughby, and Samuel Willoughby, all of Plymouth, in the
County of Devon, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR STAMPING ORES AND OTHER HARD SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS TO
BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.”
"
Scaled the 16th June 1871, and dated the 4th January 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Willoughby,
William Willoughby, Joseph Willoughby, and Samuel Willoughby,
at the Office of the Commissioners. of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 4th January 1871.
We, JAMES WILLOUGHBY, WILLIAM WILLoughby, Joseph WIL-
LOUGHBY, and SAMUEL WILLOUGHBY, all of Plymouth, in the County of
Devon, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR STAMPING ORES, AND OTHER HARD SUBSTANCES
AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," to be as follows :—
This Invention consists in certain arrangements of machinery by
mcans of which ores and other hard substances can be advantageously
and efficiently stamped.

page_text: For these purposes steam cylinders provided with piston rods which
pass through the ends thereof, are employed. The stamp heads are
attached to the lower ends of the piston rods, and the cylinders may
be worked in single sets or in rows combined or unconnected with
each other as may be desired. Steam is caused to give action to one
or more stampers at high pressure, after which it is passed into one or
more cylinders, the piston rods of which are also provided with stamp
heads.
Instead of allowing the steam to exhaust from these cylinders into
the atmosphere it is conveyed into a condenser connected with which
is an air pump, or into a condenser which is in itself of such construction
as to avoid the use of an air pump, or such other suitable apparatus
as the situation of the stampers with regard to water supply may render
desirable for the purpose of producing a vacuum on the exhausting
sides of the pistons at each stroke, thus gaining an increase of power
and enabling a larger amount of work to be accomplished than by an
equal amount of steam in any ordinary stamper.
t
This Invention also has for its object the increase of the efficiency
of single cylinder steam stampers by causing the water which is applied
to washing the stamped substances through gratings about the stamp
head for that purpose, to pass first through any suitable condensing
apparatus attached to the exhausting port of such stampers, producing
a vacuum on the exhausting side of the piston at each stroke and
causing some increase of power in the stamping cylinder..
For the regular feeding of stamping engines constructed as before
mentioned and also stamping engines driven by any other power, a
trough or cylinder is employed, in which is placed an archimedean
screw of such pitch and diameter as will allow the substances to be
stamped to be freely carried along by the operation of the same to the
anvil. Over the screw is placed a feeding hopper at such a height as
will allow a sufficient quantity of the ore or' other substance under
treatment to pass freely upon the screw. Motion, either constant or
intermittent is given to the screw by the action of the stamping engine
or from any other suitable source of power, and by means of simple
arrangements, which are well known and understood, the screw can
be adjusted to feed faster or slower according to the nature of the
material to be stamped.
For stamping materials without the use of water in the operation

page_text: the stamp head is made with flanges, and the anvil is also constructed
with flanges on its two sides, so that when the stamp head is. down on
the anvil a box is formed, the rear side of which is open to the feeding
trough. The screw feeder presses on a new supply at each stroke of
the stamper and forces off at the front the crushed material into recep-
tacles or heaps as may be desired. The delivery can also be assisted
by rakes and brushes which have their motion dependent on the action
of the stamper.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Willoughby, William Willoughby, Joseph
Willoughby, and Samuel Willoughby, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th July 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
WILLOUGHBY, WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY, JOSEPH WILLOUGHBY, and
SAMUEL WILLOUGHBY, all of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth 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 us, the said James Willoughby, William
Willougliby, Joseph Willoughby, and Samuel Willoughby, Her special
licence that we, the said James Willoughby, William Willoughby,
Joseph Willoughby and Samuel Willoughby, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Willoughby,
William Willoughby, Joseph Willoughby, and Samuel Willoughby,
our 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 expressed, should and lawfully might make, usé,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR STAMPING ORES AND OTHER HARD SUBSTANCES,
AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said James Willoughby, William Wil-
loughby, Joseph Willoughby, and Samuel Willoughby, our executors,

page_text: or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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 we, the said James Willoughby, William
Willoughby, Joseph Willoughby, and Samuel Willoughby, do hereby
declare the nature of our 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 Drawings
hereunto annexed and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say :-
Our said Invention consists in certain arrangements of machinery by
means of which ores and other hard substances can be advantageously
and efficiently stamped, such object being effected by the employment
of steam cylinders so constructed as by their action to economise the
use of steam, and to form, by the travel of the pistons within such
cylinders simple and suitable valve gearing.
Our said Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the
annexed Drawings, which shew sections of modifications of a machine
constructed in accordance with our said Invention, the machine being
so constructed as to utilise the force obtained from the reciprocating
motion of the piston rod when on one side smaller piston herein after
mentioned. The pressure of steam from the boiler is continuous on
such piston and is not alternating.
When the machine is in operation this continuous pressure takes
place on the side of the piston marked a, and causes the rod to be carried
its full travel in one direction. Steam being admitted so as to act on
the larger piston c overbalances the force on the small piston a and the
return stroke is made, the steam pressure on a being forced back through
the pipe or into the steam chest b. This admission of steam is regulated
by the piston valve d attached to a rod on which is the slide valve e.
Motion is given to the piston valve d by steam entering alternately from
the larger and smaller cylinders as the pistons within them pass over the
ports h. This steam escaping at each stroke into the exhausting side

page_text: of the cylinder excepting where a double piston valve is used, as at d,
Figure 2, which only exhausts on one side, the supply of steam at h
being taken for one side from the pipe band for the other side from
the cylinder and governed by the movement of the piston a. As the
steam acting on the piston a is not suffered to escape into the exhaust,
but forced back into the pipe or steam chest as before explained, it is
obvious, if the stroke of the rod be not always the same, the quantity
of steam acting on c, and passed through the machine will vary according
to the length of such stroke, and in machines for stamping ores, forgings,
or other hard substances, or pumping or forcing water for stamping or
other purposes for which this arrangement is applicable, the saving of
steam combined with simplicity of valve movements is very valuable.
The cylinders employed may be cast either in one piece,, as in Figures 1
and 3, or in more than one piece, as in Figures 2 and 4, and may be
fixed in any relative position one to another, the pistons being con-
nected to one rod, or, if placed side by side, may be connected with a
beam and loops or other contrivance as well understood. The difference
in the area of the pistons is regulated according to the stamping or
forcing power required, and the length of stroke will vary according
to the thickness or depth of substances under treatment between the
head and anvil. To compensate for the wearing of the stamp heads,
and to alter the stroke of the rod if the head be used for forging metal,
or when it may be desirable for any purpose to alter the length of the
stroke, it may be done by screwing the end of the rod a, Figure 5;
and by placing in an opening cast in the head or piston cap c a worm
wheel and pinion 6 or other suitable appliance, by the movement of
which the piston rod becomes practically lengthened or shortened and
the stroke in the cylinder made to vary accordingly.
Our said Invention also relates to employing steam to give action to
one or more stamp heads attached to the piston rods of steam cylinders,
after which it is passed into one or more cylinders, the piston rods of
which also are provided with stamp heads, after which the steam is con-
veyed into a condenser, connected with which is an air pump, or into a
condenser which is in itself of such construction as to avoid the use of an
air pump, or such other suitable apparatus as the situation of the stamper
with regard to water supply may render desirable for the purpose of
ducing a vacuum on the exhausting side of the piston at cach stroke, thus
gaining an increase of power and enabling a larger amount of work to be
pro-

page_text: accomplished than by an equal amount of steam in any ordinary
stamper. Figures 8 and 9 shew elevations of two stamping cylinders
thus connected. The steam enters the stamper A, which is here shewn
of the same construction as in Figure 1, after giving motion to which
it passes out by the exhaust branch o into the steam chest of the
cylinder B, from whence it passes by the action of the slide valve through
the exhausting branch into the condenser c. The cylinder B is here
shewn of the same construction as in Figure 2. Any ordinary stamping
cylinders may be so arranged with a condenser, but in order to obtain
the best results we prefer the arrangement shewn in Figures 8 and 9,
in which the small cylinder D has its piston of just sufficient size to
balance the weight of the rod, piston, and Iread, by the continuous
pressure under it.
Steam passing from the stamper A has thus, in
connection with the effect produced by the condenser c to give motion
only to the head attached to B, both sides of the piston in B being
alternately subjected to its action. By this arrangement the back
pressure on the piston in A is considerably lessened, and the machine
made much more effective. This form of balanced head machines may
be worked also by steam without the aid of condenser when desirable.
Figure 10 shews another arrangement of balancing the stamping
heads, when the cylinder A is connected by its piston rod b with a
crank arm c, which crank arm is fixed on a shaft d. On this shaft arc
hung stamp heads by metal springs e and flexible connections j. This
spring or flexible connection is not claimed by us, inasmuch as the
same has been described and set forth in the Specification filed in
pursuance of Letters Patent granted to Alfred Vincent Newton,
bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of March One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-six, No. 872. An equal number of these heads
being placed on each side of the shaft so as to balance each others
weight on steam entering the cylinder A. the heads are freely moved
by its action, and as in the last case the steam in the cylinder
is employed to give motion only to the heads and not to lift their
weight. As these heads wear the alteration in stroke is compensated
for by altering the stroke of the pistons in A as before described, or by
adjusting the length of arm c or by some other equally simple method.
These heads may also be hung by connecting rods from cranks so set
as to balance each other, and driven by any power, or by having a
connecting rod attached to end of a rod working on a moveable pin in

page_text: a crank arm or disc plate, thus producing a rotary motion, as in the
ordinary engine, while the position of the pistons in the cylinders may
be altered to adjust the stroke at will.
Our said Invention further consists in the combining a row or group
of stamping cylinders, the exhaust steam from each passing into one
common condenser as before described.
Our said Invention also relates to the regular feeding of stamping
engines constructed as before mentioned, and also stamping engines
driven by any other power. For this purpose a trough or cylinder is
employed in which is placed an archimedean. screw of such pitch and
diameter as will allow the substances to be stamped to be freely carried
along by the operation of the same to the anvil. Over the screw is
placed a feeding hopper at such a height as will allow a sufficient
quantity of the ore or other substance under treatment to pass freely
upon the screw. Motion, either constant or intermittent, is given to the
screw by the action of the stamping engine or from any other suitable
source of power and by means of simple arrangements which are well
known and understood. The screw can be adjusted to feed faster or
slower according to the nature of the material to be stamped. Figures 6, 7,
and 10 shew this feeding arrangement. A trough or cylinder khas
placed in it an archemedean screw m. Over the screw m is placed the
feeding hopper n; motion from any convenient source is given to m
through a wheel or pulley o on the end of the spindles or by levers
and catches from the crank arm c or other equally simple arrange-
ments. By this regular feeding a continuous supply is passed under
the stamp head, thus preventing waste of power on the one hand
and destruction of gratings on the other, both of which evils are met
with in stamping engines which are fed in the ordinary manner. For
stamping materials without the use of water in the operation, Figures 6
and 7, the stamp head is made with flanges x, and the anvil is also
constructed with flanges on its two sides, so that when the stamp
head is down on the anvil w a box is formed, the rear side of which
open to the feeding trough k. The screw feeder m presses in a new
supply at each stroke of the stamper, and forces off at the front the
crushed material into receptacles or heaps, as may be desired. The
delivery can also be assisted by rakes and brushes which have their
motion dependent on'the action of the stamper; when the material to
be stamped is very large a screw, Figure 6, s, is made to work in a nuty,
is
"
'

page_text: the end of such screw carries a pressing plate p, which plate, fitting
the trough or cylinder k, presses on before it all the ores or other
substances to be stamped to the anvil of the stamper.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said In-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we would
observe in conclusion that what. we consider novel and original and
therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to us by the
said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination
and arrangement of parts and mechanism substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described and set forth, or any mere modifications
thereof.
In witness. whereof, we, the said William Willoughby, Josepły
Willoughby, and Samuel Willoughby, have on behalf of ourselves
and the said James Willoughby, hereunto set our hands and scals,
this First day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
cight hundred and seventy-one.