IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESS-PLATES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Shaw and Thomas Shaw, of Brookroyd Mills,
near Halifax, in the County of York, Manufacturers, and Luke Smethurst,
of the same Place, Cloth Presser, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRESS-PLATES."
Sealed the 19th August 1879, and dated the 20th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Shaw, Thomas Shaw,
and Luke Smethurst at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th
February 1879.
SAMUEL SHAW and THOMAS SHAW, of Brookroyd Mills, near Halifax, in the
6. County of York, Manufacturers, and LUKE SMETHURST, of the same Place. Cloth
Presser. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESS-PLATES."
This Invention relates to plates employed in presses for woven or felted fabrics,
which plates are alternately heated and cooled by the admission of steam and cold
water, and the object of our improvements is, firstly, to ensure a more uniform
heating and cooling than has hitherto been possible, owing to the imperfect con-
struction and arrangement of the steam and water-ways in such plates.
According to our Invention the plates are divided internally into a number of
parallel channels or passages, the ends of which are partially closed, though not all
to the same extent, those in the centre of the plate directly opposite the supply
pipes being more contracted than those at a distance therefrom, so that when steam
or water is admitted the greatest pressure is directed against the smallest apertures,
whilst those subject to less pressure admit a greater quantity, and thus the amount
of heating or cooling medium actually passing through the plate is uniformally
distributed over the whole area thereof.
Our improvements consist, secondly, in securing the top and bottom of the plates
together by means of screw rivets instead of plain rivets as hitherto employed.
The rivets are screwed into holes tapped through the plates and passing through the
internal division walls, and the ends are then flattened or rivetted. Such rivets
are much stronger than those ordinarily employed, which only retain the plates by
means of the flattened portion or head, and which are soon rendered useless owing
to the straining caused by the expansion and contraction of the plates when heating
or cooling.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Shaw, Thomas Shaw, and Luke Smethurst in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 20th August 1879.
SAMUEL SHAW and THOMAS SHAW, of Brook Royd Mills, near Halifax, in the
County of York, Manufacturers, and LUKE SMETHURST, of the same Place, Cloth
Presser. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESS PLATES."
This Invention relates to plates employed in presses for woven or felted fabrics,
which plates are alternately heated and cooled by the admission of steam and cold
water, and the object of our improvements is,—
Firstly. To ensure a more uniform heating and cooling than has hitherto been
possible owing to the imperfect construction and arrangement of the steam and
water-ways in such plates.
According to our Invention the plates are divided internally into a number of
parallel channels or passages, the ends of which are partially closed, though not all
to the same extent, those in the centre of the plate directly opposite the supply
pipes being more contracted than those at a distance therefrom, so that when steam
or water is admitted the greatest pressure is directed against the smallest apertures,
whilst those subject to less pressure admit a greater quantity, and thus the amount
of heating or cooling medium actually passing through the plate is uniformly dis-
tributed over the whole area thereof.
Our improvements consist, secondly, in securing the top and bottom of the platos
together by means of screw rivets instead of plain rivets as hitherto employed.
The rivets are screwed into holes tapped through the plates and passing through
the internal division walls, and the ends are then flattened or rivetted. Such rivets
are much stronger than those ordinarily employed, which only retain the plates by
means of the flattened portion or head, and which are soon rendered useless owing
to the straining caused by the expansion and contraction of the plates when heating
or cooling.
In order that our Invention may be more fully understood we herein give
reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of press plate constructed according to our Invention;
Fig. 2 is a view of the interior arrangement thereof as seen when one of the sides
is removed; Fig. 3 is an edge view. A is the inlet for steam and water, and B the
outlet for same. The interior of the plate is divided into channels C by means of
the ribs D, and the steam or water enters the channels by the openings a. These
openings are smallest directly opposite the supply or inlet pipe where the greatest
pressure occurs, and increase gradually in size towards the outer edges of the plate,
in order to counteract the effect of the gradually diminishing pressure, so that the
quantity of steam or water passing through the plate is equally distributed over the
whole area thereof.
Upon the ribs D are enlargements c, through which the bolts or rivets e are
screwed. The rivets are also screwed through the plates, the holes thereon being
tapped for the purpose.
The ends of the bolts are then flattened, and rust joints being formed in course
of time the plate becomes as nearly as possible a homogeneous body, expanding and
contracting uniformly without effecting the joints.
Having thus fully described the nature of our said Invention and shewn by
Drawings in what manner the same is to be performed or carried into practical
operation, we would have it understood that what we claim as of our Inven-
tion is,―-
Firstly. The construction of press plates having internal channels with unequal
inlets or openings, in manner substantially as herein shewn and described.

page_text: Secondly. The use of screwed bolts or rivets in the construction of such press
plates, as herein described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Shaw, Thomas Shaw, and Luke
Smethurst, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixteenth day of
August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
nine
SAMUEL SHAW.
(LS.)
THOMAS SHAW.
(L.S.)
LUKE SMETHURST. (L.S.)