IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING MATERIALS BY MEANS OF HYDRAULIC POWER ALONE OR IN CONNECTION WITH MECHANISM
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Edward Heath, Colliery Proprietor,
Thomas Evens, Civil and Mining Engineer, and Thomas Edward
Heath, junior, Gentleman, all of Cardiff, in the County of Gla-
morganshire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR COMPRESSING MATERIALS BY MEANS OF HYDRAULIC POWER ALONE OR
IN CONNECTION WITH MECHANISM."
Sealed the 4th October 1872, and dated the 13th July 1872.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Edward Heath,
Thomas Evens, and Thomas Edward Heath, junior, at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 13th
July 1872.
.
We, THOMAS EDWARD HEATH, Colliery Proprietor, THOMAS EVENS,
Civil and Mining Engineer, and THOMAS EDWARD HEATH, junior,
Gentleman, all of Cardiff, in the County of Glamorganshire, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR COMPRESSING MATERIALS BY MEANS OF HYDRAULIC POWER ALONE OR IN CON-
NECTION WITH MECHANISM," to be as follows:-
-
The object of our Invention is to economize the cost of working
hydraulic power, especially when applied for compressing materials or

page_text: substances which at the commencement of such operations require com-
paratively slight pressure, but upon which at the conclusion or finish
of the stroke of the hydraulic ram all the force of which it is capable is
exerted. For this purpose we apply to an ordinary hydraulic cylinder
the liquid from a force pump, the plunger of which is of smaller
diameter but of greater length of stroke than the press or hydraulic ram,
and slightly exceeds the latter in cubical capacity. The force pump is
actuated either from the direct action of a piston working in a steam
cylinder, or by a crank pin and connecting rod from the crank shaft of
a steam engine. The pump crank may be placed at right angles to the
engine crank, so that the engine shall be exerting its greatest power
when the pump plunger is finishing its stroke; or the pump may be
actuated by a crank affixed to a shaft worked by counter or other
gearing, the results in all cases being that one stroke of the pump's
plunger will work the hydraulic ram to the full extent required, and at
the conclusion of such stroke the plunger will be exerting its greatest
force as the crank pin will be on the dead or bottom centre.
The material to be pressed may vary somewhat in quantity, and in
order that the full pressure of the liquid shall in all cases be exerted the
plunger is made to press more liquid than sufficient for the ram. We
have therefore a pressure regulating safety valve, the escaped liquid
from which is passed into a service tank, but by a catch and tappet or
other suitable means this valve is kept open on the return stroke of the
plunger, so that the escaped liquid may be resupplied to the cylinder and
waterways.
It is evident we can cause the said crank pin to work one or more
plungers placed around the central shaft, so as to press as many different
hydraulic rams.
According to another modification of our Invention, with the same
object in view, we place a cam or cams upon the crank shaft in suitable
positions, so that by means of rods and levers the ram may be moved to
a certain distance, thereafter completed by hydraulic pressure.
Our Invention may be adapted for pressing a variety of substances,
such as bales of fabrics and other articles, but it is particularly adapted
for the pressing of materials in the manufacture of bricks, tiles, and;
artificial fuel, the one revolution of the crank producing one lift of the
ram.
Such movements may, by suitable levers and catches, be utilized

page_text: for the purpose of filling the moulds with material to be pressed, also for
pressing and discharging the blocks or bricks, and for moving the mould
table during the said one. revolution.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Edward Heath, Thomas Evens, and
Thomas Edward Heath, junior, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 11th January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
EDWARD HEATH, Colliery Proprietor, THOMAS EVENS, Civil and Mining
Engineer, and THOMAS EDWARD HEATH, junior, Gentleman, all of
Cardiff, in the County of Glamorganshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Thomas Edward Heath, Thomas Evens,
and Thomas Edward Heath, junior, Her special licence that we, the said
Thomas Edward Heath, Thomas Evens, and Thomas Edward Heath,
junior, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said Thomas Edward Heath, Thomas Evens, and Thomas Edward
Heath, junior, 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, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING MATERIALS BY
MEANS OF HYDRAULIC POWER ALONE OR IN CONNECTION WITH MECHANISM," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas Edward Heath,
Thomas Evens, and Thomas Edward Heath, junior, our executors 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Edward Heath, Thomas
Evens, and Thomas Edward Heath, junior, do hereby declare the nature
of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Sheets of Drawings (that is to
say):
:-
The object of our Invention is to economise the cost of working
hydraulic power, especially when applied for compressing materials or
substances which at the commencement of such operation require com-
paratively a slight pressure, but upon which at the conclusion or finish
of the stroke of the hydraulic ram all the force of which it is capable is
exerted. For this purpose we apply to an ordinary hydraulic cylinder
the liquid from a force pump, the plunger of which is of smaller
diameter but of greater length of stroke than the press or hydraulic ram,
and slightly exceeds the latter in cubical capacity. The force pump is
actuated either from the direct action of a piston working in a steam
cylinder, or by a crank affixed to a shaft worked by a counter or other
gearing, the result in both cases being that one stroke of the pump
plunger will work the hydraulic ram to the full extent required, and (in
the latter case) at the conclusion of such stroke the plunger will be
exerting its greatest force, as the crank pin will be upon the "dead" or
bottom centre.
The material to be pressed may vary somewhat in quantity, and in
order that the full pressure of the liquid shall in all cases be exerted the
plunger is made to press more than sufficient for the ram. We have
therefore a pressure regulating supply valve, the escaped liquid from
which is passed into a service tank, but by means of a catch and tappet
or other suitable contrivance this valve is kept open on the return stroke
of the plunger, so that the escaped liquid may be resupplied to the
cylinders and waterways.
It is evident we can cause the said crank pin to work one or more
plungers placed around the central shaft, so as to press as many different
hydraulic rams.
According to another modification of our Invention, with the same
object in view, we place a cam or cams upon the crank shaft in suitable
positions, so that by means of rods and levers the ram may be moved to
a certain distance, thereafter completed by hydraulic pressure.

page_text: Our Invention may be adapted for pressing a variety of substances,.
such as bales of fabrics and many other articles, but it is particularly
adapted for the pressing of materials in the manufacture of bricks, tiles,.
and artificial fuel, the one revolution of the crank producing one lift of
the ram.
Such movement may, by suitable levers and catches, be
utilized for the purpose of filling the moulds, also for pressing and dis-
charging the blocks or bricks, and for moving the mould table during
the said one revolution.
In order that the said Invention may be clearly understood, this
Specification is accompanied by three Sheets of Drawings, the letters of
reference in which refer to similar parts.
Sheet No. 1 shews the direct action of a piston working in a steam
cylinder and actuating the force pump. Fig. 1 is a plan, Fig. 2 is a
lateral elevation, Figs. 3 and 4 are end elevations, and Fig. 5 a section
shewing bar and pin for working valve.
A is the force pump barrel, and A¹ the plunger; B is the steam
cylinder, the piston rod from which actuates the pump plunger, which
forces the liquid in the pump barrel through the connecting pipe D into.
the hydraulic cylinder with its pressing ram C. The pressure of the
liquid is regulated by the safety valve at E, which is weighted by the
dead weight H, or by a lever or other convenient means. The escaped
liquid from the safety valve E passes into the service. tank F. On the
return stroke of the pump plunger the valve at E is kept open by a
lever G, which is worked by a pin affixed to the cross head of the pump
plunger, which depresses the bar K (see Fig. 5), and upon the pin
passing the end of the bar K the weight H will descend, closing the
valve E, and raise the bar K sufficiently high to allow the pin to pass
underneath during the forward stroke. L is a weight for drawing down
the pressing ram after each upward stroke or lift.
hydraulic cylinder C, and
When the ram at C is at
its fullest extent and the
The spaces in the pump barrel A, and the
the connecting pipe D are filled with liquid.
its lowest position, the plunger A¹ is out to
valve at E is closed. By means of one stroke of the steam engine one
stroke is given to the pump plunger, which raises the ram C against any
resisting force of less pressure per square inch than that to which the
safety valve at E is weighted, and this pressure will always be effected,
as the cubical contents of the pump plunger exceed that of the hydraulic

page_text: ram. The liquid must therefore be forced through the valve into the
tank, and on the return stroke, the valve at E being kept open, it will
resupply the spaces as before.
In Sheet No. 2, Fig. 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, and
Fig. 3 an end elevation of the valve gear. This Drawing shews the appli-
cation of multiplying gearing and the adaptation of our Invention for
the purpose of filling, compressing, and discharging artificial fuel.
B is a steam engine with a fly wheel shaft, to which gearing is
attached working the large wheel and countershaft M. Upon this
wheel as a crank we attach the crank pin B', which actuates the pump
plunger A' in the pump barrel A, which forces the liquid through the
pipe D into the hydraulic cylinder C. The pressure being regulated
by the weighted valve E in a similar manner to that described and
explained by Sheet No. 1, the valve at E is raised from its seat during
the return stroke of the plunger A¹ by means of the semicircular cam K,
which depresses the long lever G.
For the manufacture of artificial fuel we have a mould table N', N¹, N',
with six mould boxes 0¹, 0¹, O¹; O', containing each of them a loose
bottom or pressing block 02, 0² We have also a thrust plate P, P, P,
firmly held down by four holding down bolts Q, Q, Q, Q. A pug mill
or feeder R, furnished with arms or agitators, is placed over the moulds,
and is driven by gearing and a belt from the countershaft M. The
mould table is made to revolve round the central holding down bolt Q
by means of the arm and pawl S and the rod T attached to and worked
by the cross head on the pump plunger A', moving the table one-sixth
of a revolution for cach return or backward stroke of the pump
plunger A. C' is a hydraulic press ram supplied with liquid in a similar
manner to the ram C by the branch pipe D' from the pipe D. In this
application of our Invention to a revolving table containing moulds O¹, O¹,
and pressing blocks O2, 0%, it is necessary that the pressing rams C and
C¹ should return to their lowest position before the next pressing blocks
come over them. We therefore have a cam M upon the countershaft M',
which actuates the levers and connecting rods L, L, as required, and
draws down the rams C and C₁ so as to clear them from collision with
the next pressing blocks 0%, O².
The process is as follows:-The loose fuel material to be pressed is

page_text: The filled moulds, by the action of the pawl S, pass in succession to the
ram C, which rises against the loose bottom or pressing block O², thereby
pressing the fuel material into a block, and simultaneously a previously
formed block is discharged from the moulds by the ram C', and removed
in any convenient manner. Thus the material is filled into moulds,
pressed into a block, and discharged by each revolution of the shaft M²
with its connections, as described.
وفہ
We have another modification of our Invention in order further to
economise the hydraulic power, which is explained by Sheet No. 3.
Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2, a side elevation; Fig. 3, end elevation; Fig. 4,
sectional elevation shewing cam and levers; Fig. 5, section shewing cam
levers and force pump; Fig. 6, section shewing the cam valve and lever
for regulating the pressure.
B is a steam engine working a fly wheel shaft, affixed to which is the
cam M, which actuates the lever N, raising the ram C, see Fig. 4, a
certain distance to impart the first pressure to any substance without the
aid of hydraulic power, such pressure to be afterwards greatly increased
by means of the force pump A, actuated by the cam B', also affixed to
the engine shaft, see Fig. 5. The ram C being raised by the lever N,
the space in the hydraulic cylinder is supplied with liquid from the
service tank F through the valve E, but in this arrangement the valve is
kept open during a portion of the forward stroke of the engine by means
of the cam K, see Fig. 6, being made more than a semicircle, and thus
depressing the lever G for the whole of the return and part of the
forward stroke. The lever L is also actuated by the cam M, and by
means of a connecting rod attached to the lever N draws down the
ram C after the completion of its upward stroke.
Having thus described our Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, we claim,-
First. The use in combination with a steam engine piston (acting
either directly or by means of cranks and gearing) of the pump plunger,
applied in the manner and for the purpose herein described.
Secondly. The use of a pump plunger, such as is herein described,
which supplies liquid slightly in excess of what is needed for a given
length of stroke of a hydraulic ram, employed in the manner and for the
purpose herein specified.

page_text: Thirdly. The employment, substantially as herein described, of a valve
acting as a regulating pressure valve and as an escape and supply valve,
in combination with mechanical arrangements, such as are herein referred
to, and used for keeping open the valve during the return stroke of the
pump plunger, in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.
Fourthly. The employment of cams, such as are herein described,
combined with the mechanism for actuating the ram at the beginning of
the lift, and other cams for bringing the rams down to their lowest
position, in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.
Fifthly. The combination of parts, arranged substantially as herein
described, in which the same shaft from which the power is derived that
works the pump plunger is used to actuate the mechanical arrangements
employed for filling the moulds, discharging the blocks, turning the
table, opening the valve, and drawing back the hydraulic rams.
•
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Edward Heath, Thomas
Evens, and Thomas Edward Heath, junior, have hereunto set our
hands and seals, this First day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
THOS. EDWP. HEATH.
THOMAS EVENS.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)
THOMAS EDWARD HEATH, JUNIOR. (L.S.)