IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES FOR BALING COTTON AND OTHER MATERIALS, AND PACKING GOODS, AND IN ECONOMISING POWER IN SUCH PRESSES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Simpson, of the Soho Iron Works, in the
City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, 'for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES FOR BALING COTTON
AND OTHER MATERIALS, AND PACKING GOODS, AND IN ECONOMISING POWER IN
SUCH PRESSES."
Sealed the 6th February 1872, and dated the 26th September 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Simpson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th September 1871.
•
I, JOSEPH SIMPSON, of the Soho Iron Works, in the City of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC
PRESSES FOR BALING COTTON. AND OTHER MATERIALS, AND PACKING GOODS, AND
IN ECONOMISING POWER IN SUCH PRESSES," to be as follows:-
Firstly. The object of the Invention is mainly to compress the
material to be operated upon from both sides by effecting the first
and easy part of the compression quickly by one or more rams acting
•

page_text: upon the lower side, and the final or intense compression by one or
more rams of larger area acting upon the upper side of the bale, and by
this means not only is the material made more close and compact but
the operation is accomplished in less time and with less power and strain
upon the ram cylinders than in ordinary single hydraulic presses.
The Invention consists in arranging one or more rams to act upon
the table of the press in the ordinary manner and in then securing the
table or ram when lifted to the required point by any suitable
mechanism, or by preventing the return or escape of the water from
the ram cylinder by closing the connecting cocks or valves, and in
connecting the pillars carrying the head of the press with one or more
rams of large area placed below the press bottom to give the final
compression by drawing down the head of the press upon the mate-
rial supported by the table. It is preferred to use a single ram to
lift the table in the ordinary manner and to secure it when at the
required point by sliding blocks that pass under the lower ends of
pillars having their upper ends secured in the table, and to actuate
the press head by two ram cylinders, one at each side, secured to the
pillars of the press head and working up and down rams fixed to the
bottom beam of the press.
The object of the Invention may also be accomplished by forcing up
the table after performing the easy part of the compression by the
ordinary ram by means of short rams of larger area arranged with
swivel cross heads or other equivalent means so as to be turned when
required to come under and act upon the lower ends of the pillars, the
upper ends of which are attached to the under side of the table and
also upon projections from the box containing the material, so that the
table and box will be lifted together to give the final or intense com-
pression. Or the press may be arranged as first described, and when
the table has been secured by the sliding blocks passing under the ends
of the pillars the beam carrying the ordinary ram, and to which the
box is secured, is lifted bodily by two or more rams of large area secured
in a beam connected with the pillars of the press and placed below the
ordinary press bottom beam, which in this case can slide up the pillars
carrying the head of the press.
Secondly. The object of the Invention is to utilize the reacting or

page_text: or roped, and consists in arranging so that the water from the ram
cylinder or cylinders will pass out through the outlet pipe into an
accumulator or vessel, in which the force of the water compresses air or
lifts a loaded ram or piston, or the water from the press cylinders is
caused to act upon a ram that gives movement to another ram of much
larger area, which acts as a pump or ram (or this pump ram may be
actuated directly by the press) to force water into an accumulator to be
used for effecting the lighter part of the work in hydraulic presses or
for other purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Simpson in the Great Scal. Patent, Office
on the 23rd March 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPHI
SIMPSON, of the Soho Iron Works, in the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her;
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of September, in the.
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, and in
the thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Simpson, Her
special license that I, the said Joseph Simpson, my executors, adminis..
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Simpson,.
my 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 HYDRAULIC PRESSES FOR BALING COTTON AND OTHER
MATERIALS, AND PACKING GOODS, AND IN ECONOMIZING POWER IN SUCH PRESSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Simpson,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 I, the said Joseph Simpson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
Firstly. The object of my Invention is mainly to compress the
material to be operated upon from both sides by effecting the first and
easy part of the compression quickly by one or more cylinders and rams
acting upon one side and the final or intense compression by one or
more cylinders and rams of larger area acting upon the other side of the
bale, and by this means not only is the material made more close and
compact but the operation is accomplished in less time and with less
power (owing to the reduced friction) than in ordinary single-acting
hydraulic presses.
My Invention consists in arranging one or more cylinders and rams to
act upon the table or follower of the press in an ordinary manner, and
in their securing the table or ram when lifted to the required point by
any suitable mechanism, or by preventing the return or escape of the
water from the ram cylinder by closing the connecting cocks or valves,
and in connecting the pillars carrying the head of the press with one or
more cylinders and rams of larger area placed below the press bottom
beam to give the final compression by drawing down the head of the
press upon the material supported by the table. In carrying out this
modification of my Invention I prefer to use a single central cylinder
and ram to lift the table or follower in the ordinary manner and to
secure it when lifted to the required point by blocks that are slided
under the lower ends of pillars having their upper ends secured in the
table or follower, and I prefer to actuate the press head by two cylinders
and rams, one at each side, these cylinders being secured to the lower
ends of pillars of the press head and working up and down their rams,
which are fixed to the bottom beam or bed plate of the press.
The object of my Invention may be accomplished by another
modification, in which my Invention also consists, namely, by arranging
the press as above described so that the table of the press may be
secured when it has been raised to the required point by sliding blocks
passed under the ends of the pillars, the upper ends of which are
secured in the table or follower, and by arranging so that the beam or
press bottom, to which the lower end of the box for the material is

page_text: secured, and which beam carries the ordinary ram cylinder, and ram can
be lifted bodily by two or more supplementary cylinders and rams.
These supplementary cylinders rest upon a suitable foundation, and they
are connected with the lower ends of the pillars carrying the press head,
and their rams act upon the under side of the ordinary press bottom or
beam, which is arranged to slide up or between the pillars carrying the
press head, and thus as the follower and box in which the material is
operated upon are both simultaneously lifted to give the final or intense
compression it has the same effect or result as drawing down the head
of the press according to the first modification of my Invention, as a
large portion of the friction of the material upon the sides of the box
(which friction prevents the free transmission of the pressure through
the material in the ordinary press) is thereby obviated.
Another modification of my Invention consists in arranging the press
to force up the table or follower by the ordinary cylinder and ram to
perform the easy part of the compression, and then give the final or
intense compression or assist the ordinary central ram to give the final
compression by two or more short cylinders and rams of larger area
arranged with swivel cross heads or other equivalent means so as to be
brought under the lower ends of pillars, the upper ends of which are
secured to the under side of the table or follower, and with this arrange-
ment the box for the material may remain either fixed or be so arranged.
as to be. forced up simultaneously by the short rams, in which latter
case the box is held down by catches or other suitable means during the
easy part of the compression, which catches are released when the final
intense compression by the short rams is to be given.
By another modification the short rams are arranged to act upon a
beam, and the lower end of the box is either secured to this beam, so as
to move with it, or it is made fixed by being connected with the lowest
or ordinary bottom beam of the press or with the upper head part of the
press. The advantage resulting from moving the box for the material
simultaneously with the table or follower of the press during the final
or intense compression may be obtained in ordinary presses with one or
more rams, all of the same length, by securing the lower end of the
bottom of the box to a plate, which can be latched or held down to the
bottom beam of the press during the easy part of the compression, this
latch or latches being released when the final or intense pressure is
about to be given, when the box is lifted by rods attached to the under

page_text: side of the press follower, the lower ends of such rods having heads or
collars upon them which come against the under side of the plate to
which the box is secured, and lift it so that it moves along with the
table or follower when it reaches the point fixed upon. Each of the said
rods passes freely through a hole in the said plate, and only acts to lift
the box when its head or. collar comes against the under side of the said
plate. Instead of rods for drawing up the box catches or sliding bolts
may be arranged in the sides of the box, the ends of these catches or
bolts being flush with the inner face of the box while the the material is
passing over them, but when the follower has come opposite to the bolts 1
or catches they are shot or slided into holes or slots in the sides of the
follower, which thus carries the box upwards with it during the remainder
of the compression.
Secondly. The object of my Invention is to utilize the reacting and
expanding power of the bale after it has been compressed and hooped ]
or roped, and consists in arranging so that the water from the ram
cylinder or cylinders during the time the bale is expanding will pass
out through the outlet pipe into an accumulator of ordinary arrange-
ment or construction in which the force of the water lifts a loaded ram
or piston, or the water from the press cylinder is caused to act upon a s
ram that gives movement to another ram (which may be of larger or
smaller area as required) which acts as a pump or ram (or this pump
may be actuated directly by the press) to force water into an accumulator
to be used for effecting the lighter part of the work in hydraulic presses
or for other purposes, the refilling of the said pump or ram being
effected by self-acting means, such as the gravity of a weight or column
of water.
2. .
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the central ram cylinder, Fig. 2 is
an end elevation and section through the bottom beam and one of the
supplementary cylinders, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the front of
the box supposed to be removed and shewing one of the supplementary
cylinders in section, and Fig. 4 is a plan section through the upper part
of the box. These four Figures illustrate the first modification of my

page_text: also attached to the table or follower. Each pillar passes freely through
a hole formed in the bottom beam (a). Upon the upper side of the
bottom beam (a) two sliding blocks c¹ are fitted, and each of them is
jointed with one end of a rod (c²), the other end of which is jointed with
an arm ³ on a cross shaft c³ in bearings carried by brackets secured to
the beam (a). Upon one end of the cross shaft (c) a lever handle c³ is
fixed, by moving which both blocks (c¹) can be slided under or with-
drawn from under the ends of the pillars (c) when they come above the
upper surface of the sliding blocks. The box (d) for the material is of
the ordinary construction (adapted for baling cotton), and its lower end
is secured to the bottom beam (a). The head (e) of the press is con-
structed and attached to the four pillars f in the ordinary manner, but
the beam or follower e¹ which enters the box is deep enough to allow it
to descend about one foot into the box (d) before the head beam (e).
comes against the end of the box. The lower ends of the pillars (ƒ)
which carry the press head slide through holes in the bottom beam (a),
as shown, and to each two end rods one supplementary cylinder. g is
attached, as shown. Each of these cylinders works upon a ram (9'),
which rams are secured to the under side of the bottom beam (a), as
shewn. The water passes to and from the supplementary cylinders (g)
through a hole in the axis of each ram (9¹) which joins a lateral passage
to which the supply pipe 92 is attached. The press is worked as
follows: Suppose the head of the press to have descended to its lowest
position until the head beam (e) rests upon the upper end of the box,
or until collars on the pillars rest against the upper surface of the
bottom beam, and that the box has been filled with the material to be
compressed, then the water is turned into the central cylinder (b), this
forces up the table or follower (62), and in doing so lifts the head of the
press (e) to its highest position, and when the ends of the pillars (c)
come level with the upper sides of the blocks (c¹) they are slided under,
and the water may now be either shut off or its pressure may be allowed
to continue so as to give support to the central part of the table or
follower. The water which up to the time of sliding the blocks (c¹)
under the ends of the pillars. was allowed to escape freely from the
supplementary cylinders (9) is now forced into them, and this draws
down the head (e) of the press and thus compresses the bale from the
opposite or upper side. When the bale is hooped or roped the water is
allowed to escape from the supplementary cylinders (g), and the reaction
or expansion of the bale lifts the head of the press to some extent, and
-

page_text: the water may be turned on to the central cylinder (6) to lift it to the
full extent by forcing up the bale, at which time the sliding blocks (c¹)
are withdrawn from under the pillars, and the table or follower (62) is
lowered ready for the next operation. When the head of the press has
been lifted by the expansion of the bale, or by the central ram, or both,
it may be retained in that position if desired by pawls or catches jointed
on the bottom beam and arranged to enter ratchet teeth formed on the
sides of the pillars carrying the head of the press, or come under collars
formed on these pillars; these pawls or catches being pushed away from
the ratchet teeth or collars by rods in connection with the sliding
blocks (c) or in connection with arms on the shaft (c) that actuates
the blocks, and as the weight of the press head (e) is taken from these
said pawls during the upward movement of the central ram they are
easily moved away from the ratchet teeth or collars upon the pillars
when the head of the press is to be drawn down.
Fig. 5 is a front elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 6 an end
elevation, partly in section, illustrating another modification of my
Invention; Fig. 7 is a plan section through the box; Fig. 8 is a plan
of the lower beam acted upon by the supplementary cylinders and
rams; and Fig. 9 is a plan of one of the supplementary ram cylinders.
g are two supplementary cylinders and g¹ their rams, the upper ends of
which are inserted in the bottom beam, in which the cylinder 6 is
secured for the long central ram b', which is connected with the table
or follower (62), to which are attached two pillars (c) that pass through
guides c* secured in the sides of the box d, and through holes in the
bottom beam (a). c' are sliding blocks arranged as herein-before
described in reference to Figs. 2 and 3. The head of the press is
arranged similar to that shewn by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the lower ends
of the pillars (f) for carrying it being attached to the supplementary
ram cylinders g. This press is worked as follows:-When the material
is filled into the box the beam (a) and rams g'are at their lowest position,
the water is turned into the central ram cylinder b, and the sliding
blocks c¹ are passed under the ends of the pillars c when the central
ram has effected the easy part of the compression; then the water is
turned into the supplementary cylinders g, and the beam (a), box (d),
and other connected parts are all lifted together to give the final
compression; and when the bale is hooped or roped water is admitted
to the central ram to release the blocks c¹, and all the rams are lower

page_text: to positions shewn in the Figures ready for the next operation. Com-
munication is kept up between a fixed water supply pipe and the
central cylinder b, which lifts about a foot by a telescopic pipe arrange-
ment, the joint being made between the moving and fixed pipe by an
hydraulic packing ring, or this communication is effected by elbow
jointed pipes. Two pipes, k & k',. are jointed together, and one end
(see Fig. 10) of one pipe is jointed to the fixed supply pipe k³, and one
end of the other pipe is jointed to the pipe ³ leading to the ram
cylinder. The full lines in Fig. 10 shew the jointed pipes when the
central ram cylinder is in its lowest, and the dotted lines when in its
highest position.
Figure 11 is a partial front elevation, and Fig. 12 a plan section of
another modification of my Invention. a is the bottom beam of the
press; b, part of the central ram cylinder, and 6¹ part of the ram; c, part
of the pillars secured in the table or follower b³; c*, guides for the
pillars (c) fixed on the sides of the box; d, part of the box secured to
the cross beam g³, which has holes through it for the central ram and
the pillars c. The cross beam g³ is fixed upon the ends of two sup-
plementary rams g¹, the cylinders 9 of which are secured upon the
lower beam a. fare pillars which carry the head of the press; c¹ is a
swivel block, which can turn freely on the central ram as an axis. This
swivel block is turned by the handles c to come under the ends of the
pillars c when they arrive above its upper surface. h are two staple-
formed latches, which are each jointed upon a shaft ¹ in the lower
beam (a). In their position, shewn in full line, the staple latches will
prevent the supplementary ram beam 9³, and thus the box (d) which
is secured to it, from rising, and in their position, shewn in peculiar
dotted line, the supplementary ram beam is at liberty to rise. Those
parts of the box d and the head of the press not shewn in Figs. 11
and 12 are the same as those shewn in Figs. 5 and 6. In working
the press illustrated by Figs. 11 and 12 the parts are in the position
shewn (the staple pieces (h) as in full line). When the compression
commences by the rise of the long central ram, the swivel block (c¹) is
turned to come under the ends of the pillars (c), the water may be
allowed to escape for a moment from the central cylinder 6 until the
pressure comes upon the beam 9³ for the supplementary rams, then
the staple pieces (h) are drawn into the position shewn by dotted
line, when the water is allowed to enter either into the supplementary

page_text: cylinders only or into all the three cylinders to give the final or intense
compression.
Figs. 13 and 14 are views corresponding respectively to Figs. 11
and 12, and of a similar modification, except that the box d is fixed and
does not move, and that sliding blocks are used which are arranged and
actuated the same as those shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, instead of the
swivel block.
Fig. 15 is a partial front elevation, and Fig. 16 a plan section of
another modification of my Invention, which is similar to that shewn by
Figs. 13 and 14, but in this modification there are four pillars c, and
the short rams have swivel cross heads (9) which are turned to come
under the ends of the pillars when their lower ends come level with the
upper surfaces of the cross heads. The two swivel heads may be.
connected by a rod so that both can be simultaneously turned by the
same handle or handles (c³).
Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate modes by which the second part of my
Invention may be carried into effect. Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation*
of a ram pump and an accumulator, and Fig. 18 is a sectional
clevation of a ram pump. In carrying out this part of my Invention
the water from the ram cylinder or cylinders of a press during the
reaction or expansion of the bale after being hooped or roped is allowed"
to pass through a pipe having a valve in it, which opens to allow the
water to pass to an accumulator of any ordinary construction similar to
that shewn by Fig. 17, which is a cylinder (a) having a ram 6 in it
loaded with weights 63. The water accumulated under pressure in this
apparatus can be used in assisting to force up the ram of a press during
the easy part of the compression. As the water may escape from the
press cylinders at a high pressure this high pressure may be utilized'
when a lower pressure is required by arranging it to act on a ram-
connected with another ram of larger area, as shewn in Fig. 17, where
the escaping water from the press is supposed to enter the cylinder c of
the small ram c¹ and force the water from the cylinder d of the larger :
ram d' into the accumulator. The water is supplied to the large ram
cylinder or pump from a cistern or other supply having pressure enough'
to lift the rams c¹ and d¹. The water from the small ram c¹ is allowed
to escape until the next discharge of water from the press under.
pressure which is allowed to enter, the waste cock being previously
closed. The pump ram has inlet and outlet valves like an ordinary

page_text: pump. If the water is to be accumulated at a greater pressure t an it
escapes from the press the respective areas of the ram and pump are the
reverse of that shewn in Fig. 17.
Fig. 18 illustrates a ram pump in which the weight of the ram acts
or tends to draw the water into the pump, and in which the exterior of
the ram cylinder forms the pump. the base part, forming a fixed ram;
e the cylinder, which moves up and down upon it, the exterior of this
cylinder forming the ram of the pump; x is a stand carrying the
cylinder (d) for the pump; 1 is the inlet and outlet pipe to the small
ram; 2 the inlet and 3 the outlet of the pump ram, the inlet being
supplied with an inlet and outlet with an outlet valve.
I have now particularly described the nature of my Invention and the
manner of carrying the same into effect, and claim as my Invention,―
Firstly. The combination and arrangement of the parts of hydraulic
presses as herein-before described and illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Secondly. The system or mode of effecting the easy part of the com-
pression by one or more cylinders and rams, and securing the same, and
then effecting the intense compression by supplementary cylinders and
rams, which draw down the head of the press, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Thirdly. The combination and arrangement of the parts of hydraulic
presses in which the easy part of the compression is effected by one or
more central rams, and the intense pressure is given by short supple-
mentary cylinders and rams which lift the central ram or rams and
box for the material bodily, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated by Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Fourthly. The combination and arrangement of central and sup-
plementary cylinders and rams and the moving box (d) with holding-
down latches (h) or equivalent means, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by Figs. 11 and 12.
Fifthly. Arranging the box (d) of. baling presses so as to move with
the follower (62) during the latter part of its movement when giving the
final pressure, substantially as herein-before described.
Sixthly. The combination and arrangement of central and sup-
plementary cylinders and rams with a cross beam (g) and pillars (c) on

page_text: cross heads (g*) and pillars (c), substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated by Figs. 13, 14, 15, and 16.
Seventhly. The system or mode of utilizing the force given off by
expanding bales which have been roped or hooped, substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated by Figs. 17 and 18.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Simpson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
JOSEPH SIMPSON. (L.S.)´
Witness,
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Manchester.