IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRESSING WOOLLEN AND OTHER WOVEN OR FELTED FABRICS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Nussey and William Bradshaw
Leachman, both of Leeds, in the County of York, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRESSING
WOOLLEN AND OTHER WOVEN OR FELTED FABRICS."
Scaled the 3rd December 1872, and dated the 9th August 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Nussey
and William Bradshaw Leachman at the Office of the Commis-
sioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 9th August 1872.
We, GEORGE HENRY NUSSEY and WILLIAM BRADSHAW LEACHMAN,
both of Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
PRESSING WOOLLEN AND OTHER WOVEN OR FELTED FABRICS," to be as follows:-
On a strong foundation plate we fix a hydraulic cylinder provided
with a ram, on the top of which is mounted and fixed a cast-iron table.
To the foundation plate we fix four pillars, which by preference we
make of wrought iron; the pillars are provided as supports for another
plate, which is placed over the table, and at a little distance apart there-

page_text: from. The table is raised by means of hydraulic pressure brought to
bear upon the ram. For the purpose of giving the required pressure we
fix on the framework attached to the foundation plate a steam cylinder
and hydraulic pump placed centrally with each other, so that the piston
rod of the steam cylinder serves also as a ram for the hydraulic pump.
Movement is given to the slide valve of the steam cylinder by means of a
cam, tappet, or other equivalent arrangement actuated by some suitable
motive power, whereby the required amount of steam is let into the
cylinder, and a reciprocating motion given to the piston and piston rod.
The piston rod working in the hydraulic pump gives the necessary
pressure, which is conveyed through pipes to the hydraulic cylinder
under the table, and thence to the ram. By this movement the table is
raised upwards towards the fixed plate.
The material is drawn on to the table by means of rollers, motion being
given from some suitable motive power. When a sufficient quantity of
material has been drawn across the sliding table the rollers cease to act
on the material, which remains stationary on the table, the table imme-
diately rises and presses the material between it and the plate; after
remaining under pressure for a few seconds the table falls, and the
pressed material is drawn from between by the rollers, which are again
brought into operation, and another length of material drawn between
the table and plate, and so on until the pioce is completed.
The table may be raised, and the material pressed by a screw motion
or other known mechanical means actuated by some suitable known
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Henry Nussey and William Bradshaw
Leachman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th February
1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, GEORGE 3
HENRY NUSSEY and WILLIAM BRADSHAW LEACHMAN, both of Leeds,
in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of August, in the year

page_text: 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 George Henry Nussey and William
Bradshaw Leachman, Her special licence that we, the said George
Henry Leachman and William Bradshaw Leachman, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George
Henry Nussey and William Bradshaw Leachman, our executors, ad-
ministrators, 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 MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR PRESSING WOOLLEN AND OTHER WOVEN OR FELTED FABRICS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said George Henry
Nussey and William Bradshaw Leachman, our exccutors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
their hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to bo
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said George Henry Nussey and William
Bradshaw Leachman, do hereby declare the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters
of reference marked thereon, that is to say :-
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is a cross section of
machinery or apparatus for pressing woollen and other woven or felted
fabrics constructed according to our Invention. Fig. 2 is a side
clevation and partial section of same; Fig. 3 shews a side elevation of
another arrangement of the machine, and application of check valve;
Figs. 5 and 6, another arrangement of check valve.
On a strong foundation plate a we fix a bydraulic cylinder 6 provided
with a ram c, on the top of which is mounted and fixed a cast-iron
table d. Through the foundation plate a we secure four pillars e, which
by preference we make of wrought iron. These pillars e are provided as

page_text: supports for a strong cast-iron plate ſ, which is secured to them, as
shewn, and placed over the table d at a suitable distance apart there-
from. The table d is raised by means of hydraulic pressure being
brought to bear a against the ram c. For the purpose of giving the
required pressure we fix a steam cylinder 7 and hydraulic pump / on
framework i attached to the foundation plate. Movement is given to
the slide valve j of the steam cylinder g by means of a cam k, tappet, or
other equivalent arrangement actuated by some suitable power, whereby
the required amount of steam is let into the cylinder at 1, and an
upward motion is given to the piston m and piston rod n. The piston
rod n working in the hydraulic pump gives the required pressure,
which is conveyed through pipes to the hydraulic cylinder 6 under the
table d, and thence to the ram c.
By the herein-before described arrangement the table d is raised
upwards towards the fixed plate f. The material is drawn on to the
tabled by the rollers o and p carried by the brackets q, the rotary
motion being given to them from some suitable motive power. When
a sufficient quantity of material has been drawn on to the table or across
it the rollers o and p are stopped, and the material already drawn over
the table & remains stationary there. The table is then caused to risc
by the means herein-before described, and presses the material between
it and the fixed plate f. After remaining under pressure for a few
seconds the table is allowed to fall by means of the slide valvej being
brought below the port by the action of the lever r, the steam being
allowed to pass off into the exhaust 1, the water from the hydraulic
cylinder returns to the pump, and allows the table to fall. When the
pressure is taken off the rollers o and p are again brought into operation,
and another length of material drawn between the table d and fixed
plate f, and so on until the piece is completed.
We will now proceed to describe another arrangement in connection
with our Invention. In this arrangement we dispense with the steam
cylinder, but employ a hydraulic pump of ordinary construction actuated
by any suitable motive power. The water is pumped into an accumu-
lator, but previously to passing into it is conveyed through a check valve 1,
shewn in Fig. 3, to which a lever 2 is attached, carrying a suitable
weight 3. When the table is required to be raised we lift the levers 2
and 4 to allow the water from the accumulator to pass through valves 1
and 5 to the hydraulic cylinder b, whence the required pressure is

page_text: imparted to the table d through the ram c, and to the material to be
operated upon.
When the table d is required to fall the levers 2 and 4 are lowered,
and their valves 1 and 5 are closed on to their respective seats, after
which lever G is forced down by suitable power, and the pressure of
water existing in the ram cylinder is taken off, the water being allowed
to escape through opening 7 into cistern. At the same time the
hydraulic pump is forcing the water into the accumulator for the next
operation. During the time the pump is forcing the water into the
accumulator for the next operation the material is drawn to a suitable
length from the rollers of our pressing machine, patented by us,
November 29th 1871, No. 3230, which we employ in connection with
the herein-described machine; but at the same time we would remark
that each of these machines may be used separately.
We mount on the framework of the upper plate the bracket 8, which
carries the lever 9, on which are mounted the friction pulleys 10 and 11,
by which the required rotary motion is imparted to the rollers 12 and
13. We provide a stop or pin 14, which we fix in the sliding table.
When the length of material required to be pressed has been drawn on
to the table motion is given to the levers 2 and 4, and at the same time
the pin 14 acts upon the swing lever 9, and throws the friction pulleys 10
and 11 out of gear, thereby stopping the traverse of the material
during the pressing operation.
When required we employ a plate 15 (secured to the framework
of the machine); round this the material is drawn, as shewn by tho
rollers 12 and 13. The roller 16 is for conducting the pressed material
away from the machine. By employing the plate 15 we are enabled to
press four sides of the material at one operation.
Our Invention consists further in the construction of check valve,
shown at Figs. 4 and 5. The pressure comes from the accumulator .
through inlet s, and into chamber t, thence passes through the
holes u, u, and outlet ; from the outlet the fluid is conducted to the
ram cylinder through suitable pipes. When it is required that the
pressure should be taken off the hole 10¹ is moved opposite the outlet v,
when the fluid immediately passes down the spindle, and through the
outlet x.
The above valve may be used instead of valve shewn at
Fig. 2.

page_text: The table may be raised, and the material pressed by a screw motion,
or other known mechanical means, actuated by some suitable known
motive power.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner
in which the same may be performed, we would remark in conclusion
that we do not limit ourselves to the exact limits, details, and con-
figuration of parts we have explained and shewn, as the same may be
varied or modified without in any way departing from the nature of
our Invention; but what we do claim and desire to be secured to
us by Letters Patent are,—
Firstly. Pressing woollen or other woven or felted fabrics in lengths,
substantially as herein set forth.
Secondly. The combination and arrangement of the several parts con-
stituting the machine or apparatus, in manner substantially as shown
and described.
Thirdly. The arrangement and construction of check valves, sub-
stantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Fourthly. The arrangement, construction, and application of plate 15,
Fig. 3, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Fifthly. Arrangement and application of steam cylinder and hydraulic
pump, shewn at Figs. 1 and 2, substantially as and for purposes herein
set forth.
In witness whereof, wc, the said George Henry Nussey and William
Bradshaw Leachman, have hercunto set our hands and scals,
this Seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.