IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PRESSES
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
Fox, late of Trafalgar Square, in the County of Middlesex, but now of New
Street, Spring Gardens, in the City of Westminster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifteenth day of March, in the
tenth year of Her reign (One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven), did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Fox, my exors, adññors, and assigns. Her especial licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Charles Fox, my exors, admors,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Fox, my exors, adiñors, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter, during the term of years therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in the
Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PRESSES;" in which said Letters Patent there is con-
tained a proviso obliging me, the said Charles Fox, to particularly describe

page_text: and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and
to cause the same to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chan-
cery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto bad, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Fox, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described and
ascertained in and by this present Specification or Instrument in writing,
reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and in which similar
parts are marked and referred to by similar letters or characters (that is
to say):-
My said Invention consists of a mode of constructing hydraulic presses
intended to be used in the manufacturing of articles to be made of iron, steel,
and other metals and materials. The presses which I construct for these
purposes are furnished with separate reservoirs of a cylindrical or other con-
venient form, containing water compressed, and loaded with weights to the
required extent, and are so constructed that the water contained in such
reservoirs may be speedily forced into the ordinary cylinders of the presses,
and the water speedily ejected from such cylinders, in order that the presses
may thus be made to operate more expeditiously for the purposes of producing
the required effects. The manner in which I construct my presses for effect-
ing these purposes will be better understood by shewing (with the aid of the
said several Drawings) the construction thereof, in connection with machinery
which is intended to be used in welding pieces of iron or steel together, and
otherwise manufacturing articles to be made of either of these metals. The
said machinery, together with a press made according to my Invention, is
shewn in Figure 1 of the said Drawings, which shews a side elevation of the
said press and machinery, with some of the parts in section. A, A, is a reser-
voir or cylinder supported on a cross frame B, and columns, as shewn in the
Drawing. The reservoir is made with each end open. The orifice at the upper
end is about twice the area of the orifice at the lower end, and each orifice is
furnished with a leather stuffing box, such as usually applied to hydraulic
cylinders. The reservoir is furnished with a pipe C, C, by means of which it
receives water from a force pump (of the description usually employed for
hydraulic presses), and another pipe D, D, D, by means of which the water
is conveyed from the reservoir into the cylinder of the press. The reservoir
is furnished with a ram or piston E, E, E, the upper portion of which is of

page_text: greater diameter than the lower; the upper portion being made to fit the
upper orifice of the reservoir, and the lower portion to fit the lower orifice.
To the bottom of the ram or piston is to be attached a weight sufficient to
produce the required amount of force, the weight being from time to time
regulated, so that the press may act with the degree of force or produce the
amount of pressure required. When water is forced into the reservoir through
the pipe C, C, (the pipe D, D, D, being closed) the ram or piston E, E, E,
will be raised, and with it the heavy weight at the bottom of it; and when
the pipe D, D, D, is opened the weight will draw or press the ram downwards
and force the water through the pipe D, D, D. The reservoir may, however
(if thought more desireable), be constructed with only one of its ends open,
which would, of course, be the upper end. And such a reservoir must be
fitted with a piston, upon or to which weights must be placed or attached, or
to which some other adequate power must be applied, so as to press the piston
towards the bottom of the reservoir, and so compress or load the water to
the requisite extent. One of my presses may, for the purposes of this part of
my Invention, be constructed with one, two, or more of such reservoirs, as
aforesaid; and when more than one such reservoir is attached to a press such
reservoirs may be loaded in different manners, so that the press may be made
to act with various degrees or extents of power or force. F, F, is the cylinder
of the press constructed in the ordinary way, and furnished with a ram G of the
ordinary description. The press is supported by a strong cast-iron frame H, H,
upon the bottom part of which I, I, may be supported part of a die (such
as shewn in the Figure -) or any other instrument to be used in the intended
manufacture. K, K, is a guide bar or cross head attached to the lower end
of the ram, with which moves up and down, and to the lower side of which
guide bar may be attached a die (as shewn in the Figure -), or any other in-
strument, which is to be used for operating in the intended manner.
Near to
the entrance of the pipe D, D, D, into the cylinder of the press, the pipe is
furnished with a valve L, which works in a stuffing-box, and is moved by a
lever ', as shewn in the Drawing. On the opposite side the cylinder is fur-
nished with another pipe M, M, for the escape of the water into the vacuum
chamber, the pipe near its insertion into the cylinder being furnished with a
valve N similar to the valve L, before mentioned. When a great degree or
extent of power is not intended to be used in working a press, stopcocks may
be used instead of the valves L and N. The other end of the exit or escape
pipe M, M, is inserted in the vacuum chamber O, and that chamber is also
furnished with another pipe P, P, which is intended to lead to the pump or
pumps, by means of which the chamber is to be exhausted. Such pump or

page_text: pumps may be of the ordinary description used for steam engines, and which
will not only exhaust the chamber of its air, but also pump out the water
from time to time discharged into it from the cylinder. To the chamber O is
attached a barometer gauge q, q, such as is used in condensing steam engines
for the purpose of shewing the degree of exhaustion of the chamber.
The action of this press and machinery is as follows:-The reservoir having
been charged, by pumping water into it in the ordinary way, and the vacuum
chamber exhausted, if the valve L be opened, the water will be forced from
the reservoir A, A, into the cylinder of the press, which will cause the ram of
the cylinder and the guide bar K, K, to descend, so as to bring into action
any dies or other instruments which may have been mounted in the machine
for the purpose of operating in the required manner. The required effect
having thus been produced, the valve L is to be closed, and the valve N
opened, upon which the vacuum formed in the chamber O will cause the
pressure of the atmosphere to act upon the ram of the cylinder, so as to force
it upwards and drive the water in the cylinder through the exit or escape pipe
M, M, into the chamber O. By these means the force of the ram will be
speedily removed and the ram brought back into the position in which it is
intended to remain until again brought into action.
In Figure 2 of the said Drawings is shewn another press made according to
my Invention, and in connection with machinery intended to be used for such
purposes as herein-before mentioned. And this Figure also shews a side
elevation of the press and machinery, with some of the parts in section.
This press is also intended to be constructed with a separate reservoir, such as
herein-before described; and as the reservoir has already been shewn in
Figure 1, and herein-before described, it is unnecessary to repeat the description,
or again to shew the reservoir in Figure 2. But although this repetition is
avoided, it must be clearly understood, notwithstanding this omission, that
the machine is to be furnished with a separate reservoir or reservoirs, such as
herein-before described. The most material difference between the press
shewn in Figure 2 and that before described is, that the press shewn in
Figure 2 is not furnished with a vacuum chamber or any of the machinery
necessary for the purposes of the vacuum chamber, as herein-before described;
but, in lieu thereof, is furnished with a small press cylinder, as herein-after
described. The cast-iron frame H, H, shewn in Figure 2, together with the
apparatus connected therewith, is the same as shewn in Figure 1, and herein-
before described. The two valves L,L, and N,N, are also similar to the valves
L, L, and N, N, in Figure 1. The cylinder F, F, and its ram G are also
constructed in the same way as the cylinder and ram shewn in Figure 1, but

page_text: the upper end of the cylinder F, F, Figure 2, is constructed so as to receive
the small cylinder which is placed upon it. Upon the top of the cylinder F is
secured the small press cylinder R, which is of the ordinary description, and
the open end of which is placed upwards, so that it may exert its force or
pressure in a direction opposite to that of the large cylinder G. The small
cylinder R is furnished with a suitable ram of the usual description, to the top
of which is attached the cross head T. The cross head T and the guide bar
K, K, are connected together by side rods, one of which, marked S, is shewn
in the Figure. The side rods must be made of such a length that when the
large cylinder F, F, is not in action, the ram of the small press R may be
able sufficiently to elevate the guide bar K, K, together with the ram G,
which rests upon it, and any die or instrument which may be attached to the
under side of the guide bar. The pipe U, U, U, branches out from the pipe
D, D, and communicates with the bottom of the small cylinder R, by which
means the water from the separate reservoir has free access to the under side
of the ram of that cylinder, and so that when the large cylinder F, F, is not in
action and the valve N is open, the force of the water pressed into the small
cylinder from the reservoir may raise the ram of that cylinder, and by means
of the side rods connected with it, as before described, lift the guide bar K, K,
and the ram G of the large cylinder. In a press constructed as shewn in
Figure 2, the pipe M is used merely as an exit or escape pipe for conveying
away the water discharged from the cylinder F, F, and the pipe may of course
be continued to any tank or vessel into which it is intended that the water
shall be discharged.
The action of this press and machinery is as follows:-The reservoir being
charged by pumping water into it in the usual way, the valve L, L, being shut
and the valve N held open by means of the lever and the handle connected
with it, the water from the reservoir will pass through the pipe D and the
pipe U into the small cylinder R, and force up the ram of that cylinder.
By these means the ram G, and the guide bar K, K, with any die or
instrument which may be fixed to the under side of it, will be lifted
up so as to allow the introduction of any piece of iron, metal, or other
substance which it is intended to operate upon. The piece of metal or
substance intended to be operated upon (whether heated or not) is then to be
placed in or upon any lower die or instrument which may have been placed
upon the bottom or lower part of the frame or machine I, I, for the purpose
of operating or assisting to operate upon the piece of metal or substance:
The valve N, N, is now to be closed, and the valve L, L, opened by means of
the lever and the handle connected with it, so as to allow the water in the

page_text: resevoir to be forced into the cylinder F, F. The sectional area of the
interior of the cylinder F, F, being much larger than that of the interior of
the cylinder R, the force of the water in the cylinder F, F, will cause the
ram G to descend, carrying with it the guide bar K, K, and any die or
instrument which may have been attached to the under side of the guide bar, for
the
purpose of operating upon the piece of metal or substance. The press will in
this way cause the upper and lower dies or instruments to act simultaneously
upon and press the piece of metal or substance placed between them with
great force for the purpose of operating upon it in the intended manner, and
the degree of force or pressure applied in this way may of course be regulated
by the weight or load attached to the ram of the reservoir E, E, E, or other-
wise applied to that ram for the purpose of compressing the water in the
reservoir, and forcing it into the cylinder or cylinders of the press.
In a press constructed in the manner I have just described the small cylinder
R may be termed self-acting, not being furnished with any valves or stop-
cocks for the purpose of bringing the ram of that cylinder into or or
throwing it out of action; but the small cylinder R may, if thought more
desireable, be furnished with separate presses and valves, or stopcocks, to
be opened and closed as may be required, for the purpose of causing the ram
of that cylinder to be raised or lowered, and in that case one of the pipes
being furnished with a valve or stopcock, by means of which it may be
opened or closed, must be made to communicate with the separate reservoir
before mentioned, or with some other loaded reservoir, from which water may
be forced into it in manner herein-before described. The other pipe being
also furnished with a valve or stopcock is to be used merely as an exit or
escape pipe for permitting the escape of the water when the ram of the
cylinder is to be forced or drawn down into the cylinder. The dies or
instruments to be used in operating with my said presses must of course
be varied in form and construction as may be necessary for producing the
required effects upon the pieces of metal or substances to be operated upon.
And my said press may, with great advantage, be used, in conjunction with
the machinery described in a Specification enrolled in Chancery at West-
minster, on the Twenty-third day of March now last past, and describing
my Invention of "Improved Machinery for Shearing, Cutting, and Punching
Metals," comprised in Letters Patent under the said Great Seal, granted to
me, and bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of September, in the tenth
of Her said Majesty's reign, and also in conjunction with the machinery
described in a certain other Specification, enrolled in Chancery at Westminster
on the Twenty-fourth day of August last, and describing my Invention of
year

page_text: "A Method or Methods of Welding or Riveting Pieces of Metal together,
and of Pressing or Forming Pieces of Metal into Forms or Shapes," comprised
in certain other Letters Patent, under the said Great Seal, granted to me and
bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February now last past, my said
improved press being in such case employed in place of the ordinary or
other presses mentioned in the said Specifications respectively. When
necessary for producing the required effect the pieces of metal or other
material operated upon by means of my improved press may, of course,
be repeatedly subjected to the action of the dies or instruments used in con-
junction with the press for the purpose of operating upon the pieces of metal
or other material.
In Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the said Drawings I have shewn, by way of.
illustration, the manner in which my said improved press may be used or
applied for the purpose of manufacturing wrought iron. Figure 3 shews a
side elevation of a portion of a press constructed for the purpose just men-
tioned (the separate reservoir and other parts of the machinery shewn in
Figures 1 and 2 being omitted). Figure 4 shews a vertical section, and
Figure 5 a plan of the same portion of a press shewn in Figure 8. The
cylinder F, F, and its ram G, the frame H, H, the bottom part I, I, and the
guide bar or cross head K, K, shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5, are substantially
the same as the similar parts herein-before described, the lower side of the
guide bar or cross head, and the upper side of the bottom part of the frame,
having their surfaces made in convenient forms for operating upon the iron;
but instead of constructing these surfaces in this manner they may be furnished
with dies or instruments of such descriptions as will operate in the required
manner. In each of the Figures 3 and 4 is shewn a bloom or ball of iron
heated to a welding heat, and placed in the press as it would appear imme-
diately before being acted upon by the force of the press, the bloom having an
iron handle attached to it for the purpose of moving it in the manner required.
The press, a portion of which is shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5, must of
course be furnished with a separate reservoir or reservoirs, and all the other
machinery before described, either as shewn in Figure 1 or in Figure 2. When
the bloom of iron has been operated upon by means of the press the pressure.
is to be removed, and the bloom turned so that it may be again operated upon
and pressed in a different direction by the action of the press, and the ope-
ration of pressing it must be repeated as rapidly as practicable until the
desired effect has been produced. And, if necessary, the iron must be again
heated and operated upon in this way until the piece of iron has been brought
into the intended state. The amount or degree of force or pressure to be pro-

page_text: duced by my said improved presses will of course vary according to the nature
of the material intended to be operated upon, and the effect required to be
produced. And when a press is intended to be employed in manufacturing
articles of iron or other metal, the degree of force or pressure will vary from
about one to three tons for every square inch of the transverse sectional area
of the ram of the cylinder, or of so much of such area as may be available for
the purpose of producing pressure.
Having now ascertained and described the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I claim
as of my said Invention,-
Firstly, the mode of constructing hydraulic presses with separate reservoirs,
in manner herein-before described.
Secondly, the mode of constructing such hydraulic presses as aforesaid with
vacuum chambers, in manner and for the purposes hercin-before described.
And,
Thirdly, the mode of constructing such hydraulic presses as aforesaid with
small extra hydraulic cylinders, in manner and for the purposes herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Fox, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
CHARLES (L.S.) FOX.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fifteenth day of September, in
the year of our Lord 1847, the aforesaid Charles Fox came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
THAT