IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRO- Dese MED MADE A MOMIZAR AR WARRING ום מחה
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to
PATENT to Alfred Augustus Hely, of 23, Southampton
Terrace, Waterloo Bridge, in the County of Surrey, Seed Crusher,
and John Marshall, of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Civil and
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRO-
Dese
MED MADE A MOMIZAR AR WARRING
ום מחה
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Augustus Hely
and John Marshall at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 4th April 1866.
We, ALFRED AUGUSTUS HELY, of 23, Southampton Terrace, Waterloo
Bridge, in the County of Surrey, Seed Crusher, and JOHN MARSHALL, of
Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDROSTATIC PRESSES, AND IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF WORKING THE SAME,"
be as follows:-
Our Invention has reference to improvements (amongst others) upon
certain portions of the subject matters of the Letters Patent granted to the
said John Marshall, under date the 29th day of January 1864, and
numbered 251.

page_text: upon
First, instead of pressing a thick body of fluid-bearing substance in the
"close-sided vessel or chamber," described in the Specification of the before-
mentioned Letters Patent, we dispense altogether in certain cases with the
said "vessel or chamber" and press a thin layer of the fluid-bearing substance
the surface itself of the "strainer," also described in the said Specifica-
tion, simply confining the said layer of substance upon the said "strainer" by
means of a metallic band or belt encircling the same, of sufficient depth to
prevent the substance from scattering during pressure, and of sufficient
strength to resist the pressure, it being understood that the said confining
band or belt shall fit the pressing plunger acting upon the said layer of
substance and the said "strainer" in such close metallic contact that during
the process of expression the fluid shall not escape either between the said
plunger and the said confining band or belt and between the said confining band
or belt and the said "strainer," or through any outlets or passages other than
those provided through the "strainer" itself.
Secondly, with the double view of expediting the expression and more
effectually clearing the strainers and passages of vertically-acting hydro-
static presses, constructed according to our improvements, we use a strainer
similar to that before referred to upon the end of the pressing plunger, providing
the latter with a suitable passage or outlet for the expressed fluid, and at the
same time forming upon the back faces of the said strainers, by means of
suitable valves and pipes, a vacuum in conjunction with an ordinary air pump
and exhaust chamber, thereby emptying the passages of the press and con-
tiguous pipes as fast as the fluid is expressed into the vessels or receivers
connected therewith.
Thirdly, we sometimes altogether dispense with the said confining band
or belt also, but in this case we form the said strainer or strainers of a concave
instead of a plane surface, and the said pressing plunger of a convex instead
of a plane surface, thus pressing with or without the aid of the vacuum before
described, the said layer of fluid-bearing substance between two curved
surfaces of varying radii, the concavity of the said strainer preventing the
substance from scattering during pressure.
Fourthly, in substitution for the plane or curved faces of the strainers
above mentioned we sometimes use strainers with surfaces waved either in
longitudinal concentric or convoluted lines, the projections on the surface of
the one strainer facing the projections or fitting into the recesses on the
surface of the other.
Fifthly, as under certain circumstances of expression it may prove desirable
to effect the discharge of the residuary matters without the aid of the "dis-

page_text: charging rams" described in the Specification of the before-mentioned
Letters Patent, we use in substitution for the same the simple process of
maintaining the vacuum in the upper strainer whilst destroying it in the
lower, so that upon the fall of the press or return of the main ram to its
former position the said upper vacuum causes the residuary matters to adhere
in close contact to the said upper strainer and retains them there until
the said vacuum is in turn destroyed, when the same are forthwith easily
removed.
Sixthly, as under certain further circumstances of expression it may prove
desirable to repress the fluid-bearing substance twice or even thrice, we use two
or more, say, for example, three, confining bands or belts, or concave or other
strainers in economical substitution for a second or third press, and devote the
lower confining band or belt or concave strainer to the first, pressing the middle
to the first and second pressings, and the upper to the first, second, and third
pressings, so that whilst the second or third pressings are going on in the
middle and upper bands or belts or concave strainers the lower is also at
work giving the first pressing to a fresh layer of fluid-bearing substance, and
so on in continuous rotation to the end.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Augustus Hely and John Marsball in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 4th October 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ALFRED
AUGUSTUS HELY, of 23, Southampton Terrace, Waterloo Bridge, in the
County of Surrey, Seed Crusher, and JOHN MARSHALL, of Greenwich, in the
County of Kent, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Alfred Augustus Hely and John Marshall, Her special licence that
we, the said Alfred Augustus Hely and John Marshall, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Alfred Augustus
Hely and John Marshall, 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

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an' Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HYDROSTATIC PRESSES, AND IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF WORKING THE
SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Alfred Augustus"
Hely and John Marshall, or one of us, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or one of 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Alfred Augustus Hely and John
Marshall, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Our Invention has reference to improvements (amongst others) upon
certain portions of the subject matters of the Letters Patent granted to the
said John Marshall, under date the Twenty-ninth day of January One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, and numbered 251.
First, instead of pressing a thick body of fluid-bearing substance in the
"close-sided vessel or chamber," described in the Specification of the before-
mentioned Letters Patent, we dispense altogether in certain cases with the
said vessel or chamber, and press a thin layer of the fluid-bearing substance
upon the surface itself of the "strainer" described in the said Specification,
simply confining the said layer of substance upon the said "strainer" by
means of a metallic band or belt encircling the same, of sufficient depth to
prevent the substance from scattering during pressure, and of sufficient
strength to resist the pressure, it being understood that the said confining
band or belt shall fit the pressing plunger acting upon the said layer of
substance and the said "strainer" in such close metallic contact that during
the process of expression the fluid shall not escape either between the said
plunger and the said confining band or belt, or between the said con-
fining band or belt and the said "strainer," or through any outlets or
passages other than those provided through the strainer itself. The strainers
combined with the confining bands or belts are herein-after termed the
" carriers."
Secondly, with the double view of expediting the expression, and more
effectually clearing the strainers and passages of vertically-acting hydrostatic
presses constructed according to our improvements, we use a strainer similar
to that before referred to upon the end of the pressing plunger, providing the

page_text: latter with a suitable passage or outlet for the expressed fluid, and at the
same time forming upon the back faces of the said strainers, by means of
suitable valves and pipes, a vacuum in conjunction with an ordinary air pump
and exhaust chamber, thereby emptying the passages of the press and con-
tiguous pipes into the vessel or receivers connected therewith.
Thirdly, we sometimes altogether dispense with the said confining band or
belt also, but in this case we form the said strainer or strainers of a
concave instead of a plain surface, and the said pressing plunger of a convex
instead of a plain surface, thus pressing, with or without the aid of the vacuum
before described, the said layer of fluid-bearing substance between two curved
surfaces of varying radii, the concavity of the said strainer preventing the.
substance from scattering during pressure.
Fourthly, in substitution for the plain or curved faces of the strainers
above mentioned we sometimes use strainers with surfaces waved either in
longitudinal, concentric, or convoluted lines, the projections on the surface of
the one strainer facing the projections or fitting into the recesses on the
surface of the other.
Fifthly, as under certain circumstances of expression it may prove desirable
to effect the discharge of the residuary matters without the aid of the
"discharging rams" described in the Specification of the before-mentioned
Letters Patent, we use in substitution for the same the simple process of
maintaining the vacuum in the upper strainer whilst destroying it in the
lower, so that upon the fall of the press or return of the main ram to its
former position the said upper vacuum causes the residuary matters to adhere
in close contact to the said upper strainer, and retains them there until the
said vacuum is in turn destroyed, when the same are forthwith easily
removed.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represent a half centre section of
a vertically-acting hydrostatic press constructed according to our present
improvements. In this Figure the receptacles for holding the fluid-bearing
substance to be pressed, called the "carriers," are shewn lifted up as in the
act of pressing; and this Figure also represents the outlets for the fluid at the
bottom of the lower "strainers," as well as their connections with the vacuum
chamber or receiver through the vacuum valves. Figure 2 is a half centre
section of the hydrostatic press shewing the "carriers" lowered down, as in
the position of being filled; and this Figure also shews the outlets for the fluid
at the top of the upper "strainer" as well as their connections with the vacuum
chamber or receiver through the vacuum valves. Figure 3 is a side elevation
of the "carriers" shewing their position when the vacuum valves drawing the

page_text: fluid from the top of the upper strainers are brought into action, and the
mode or method of working the same. Figure 4 is a side elevation of the
carriers (on the opposite side to that represented by Figure 3) shewing
their position when, the vacuum valves drawing the fluid from the bottom of
the lower strainers are brought into action, and the mode or method of working
the same.
A, A, represents the base of a double carrier vertically acting hydro-
static press; B, B, the head; C, C, the columns; D, D, the cylinder;
E, E, the main ram; F, F, the lower carrier resting on the main ram; G, G,
the upper carrier resting upon suitable supports or bearings in connection
with the columns of the press; .H, H, is a plunger forming part of the
carrier G, G, and fitting into the carrier F, F; I, I, is a plunger attached
to the press bead and fitting into the carrier G, G; K, K, is a channel
plate in the carrier F, F; L, L, is a "strainer" resting on the channel plate
K, K; M, M, is a discharge ram in the carrier F, F, for lifting 'the channel
plate K, K, and strainer L, L, and thus discharging the residuary matters
left thereon after expression; N, N, N, N, are concentric grooves formed in
the bottom of the carrier F, F, to draw off the expressed fluid through the
radial passage O, through the vacuum valve P, and thence by the stand pipe Q
to a vacuum chamber or receiver; R, R, is a channel plate attached to the
plunger H, H; S, S, is a strainer supported against the channel plate R, R;
T, T, T, T, are concentric grooves formed on the face of the plunger H, H, for
drawing off the expressed fluid through the inclined radial passage U, the vacuum
valve V, and thence by the stand pipe W to the vacuum chamber or receiver.
a, a, is a channel plate in the carrier G, G; b, b, a strainer resting on the
channel plate a, a; c, c, is a discharge ram in the plunger H, H, forming
part of the carrier G, G, for lifting the channel plate a, a, and strainer b, b,
and thus discharging the residuary matters left thereon after expression;
d, d, d, d, are concentric grooves formed in the bottom of the carrier G, G, to
draw off the expressed fluid through the radial passage e, through the vacuum
valve f, and thence through the stand pipe Q to the vacuum chamber or
receiver; 9, 9, is a channel plate attached to the plunger I, I; h, h, is a strainer
supported against the channel plate g, g; i, i, i, i, are concentric grooves
formed on the face of the plunger I, I, for drawing off the fluid through the
radial passage k, k, through the vacuum valve l, and thence by the stand
pipe W to the vacuum chamber or receiver; 0, 0, 0, 0, are loaded bent levers;
m, m, m, m, are stud carriages, and n, n, n, n, are stud pins acting at suitable
times upon the bent valve levers 0, 0, 0, 0.
Figure 5 is a section of a carrier shewing the manner by which a stationary

page_text: metallic band or belt of sufficient strength to resist the pressure and of sufficient
depth to prevent the substance from scattering during pressure may be kept
in position upon the ram or plunger heads, either by steady pins p, p, or by
bolts as at 9, the said confining band or belt fitting its respective pressing
plunger acting upon the said substance and the said strainer in such close metallic
contact that during the process of expression the fluid shall not escape either
between the said plunger and the said band or belt and the said strainer, or
through any outlets or passages other than those provided through the said
strainer.
.
Figure 6 is a section of a carrier and plunger wherein the bottom strainer r
instead of having a plane face is formed concave, and the top strainer s
is formed convex, or the former may be convex and the latter concave, the
curves being of varying radii.
1
Figure 7 is a section of top and bottom strainer plates, waved or corrugated,
composed either of perforations in the plate itself or of concentric rings,
longitudinal or vertical bars, or other suitable material or arrangement
affording the combined resistance and permeability required.. The waves or
corrugations as shewn here are concentric, but they may be made in parallel,
angular, diagonal, or voluted lines, or any combination or variation thereof;
they are likewise here shewn as of equal radius and depth, but they may be
made of varying radii and depths, and instead of the waves or corrugations
being worked upon a plane surface they may be worked upon a curved surface;
and thus become applicable, for instance, to the strainers shown in Figure 5: .
In working the vertically-acting hydrostatic press constructed according to
our present improvements, as herein-before described, the spaces X and Y
in the carriers F, F, and G, G, are first filled with the fluid-bearing substance
to be pressed. Upon applying the power the carrier F, F, is lifted up until
the plunger H, H, forming part of the carrier G, G, just enters the same,
when the bent lever o of the vacuum valve P catches against the stud n on
the carriage m attached to the carrier G, G, by which means the valve P is
immediately opened to the vacuum. The pressure is continued until the
fluid-bearing substance is sufficiently compressed to overcome the weight of
the carrier G, G, when this carrier is lifted up until the plunger I, I, just
enters the same. So soon as the plunger I, I, has entered the carrier G, G,
the bent lever o of the vacuum valve V catches against the stud n on the
carriage m attached to the press head, immediately opening the valve V to
the vacuum; at the same time the bent lever o of the valve f catches against
the stud n on the carriage m attached to the press head, and thus opens the
valvef to the vacuum.. Also at the same time the. bent lever o of the valve /

page_text: catches against the stud n on the carriage m attached to the carrier G, G,
opening the valve to the vacuum. The pressure is then continued to the
end of the process of expression, all the valves being open to the vacuum.
During the pressure the fluid in the upper carrier G, G, is partly pressed
upwards into the strainer h, h, the channel plate g, g, and the passages i, i, i, i,
and k, the other portion of the fluid being forced downwards through the strainer
b, b, the channel plate a, a, the passages d, d, d, d, and e, and thence through the
vacuum valvef and stand pipe Q into the vacuum chamber or receiver. So with
the carrier F, F, a portion of the fluid is pressed upwards into the strainer S, S,
the channel plate R, R, the passages T, T, T, T, and U, the remaining
portion being forced downwards through the strainer L, the channel plate
K, K, the passages N, N, N, N, and O, and thence through the vacuum
valve P and stand pipe Q into the chamber or receiver. Upon lowering the
press when the carrier G, G, drops below the plunger I, I, the air is admitted
on the under surface of the strainer h, h, whereby the rush of air into the
vacuum chamber carries the fluid contained in the channel plate 9, g, and
passages i, i, i, i, and K through the vacuum valve and stand pipe W into
the chamber or receiver. At the same time the air rushing past the sides
of the compressed. substance forces any fluid that may remain underneath
the strainer b, b, through the vacuum valve f and stand pipe Q into the
chamber or receiver. Upon the press falling a little lower the bent levers of
the valves and f quit their studs, and the weights on those levers close the
valves against the vacuum. So also when the carrier F, F, drops below the
plunger H, H, the air is admitted on the under side of the strainer S, S,
whereby the rush of air into the vacuum chamber carries the fluid contained
in the channel plate R, R, and passages T, T, T, T, and U through the
vacuum valve V and stand pipe W to the chamber or receiver, at the same
time the air rushing past the sides of the compressed substance forces any fluid
that may remain underneath the strainer L, L, through the vacuum valve P
and stand pipe Q into the chamber or receiver. Upon the press falling a
little lower still the bent levers of the valves V and P quit their studs, and
the weights on those levers close the valves and retain them closed against
the vacuum until a fresh lift of the press takes place. The press having now
faller, the residuary matters are discharged by the discharge rams M, M,
and c, c, lifting their respective channel plates and strainers to the top
of the carriers F, F, and G, G, when the said residuary matters are easily
removed.
Another method of discharging the said residuary substances, either in
combination with (such combination being simply for additional security)

page_text: or in substitution for the discharge rams, is as follows:-The vacuum valves P
and must be so constructed, by baving double faces or otherwise, as to make
the passages O and e either open to the air and closed against the vacuum, or.
open to the vacuum and closed against the air; so also with the valves V and l.
According to this method of discharging the valves are worked by hand instead
of being self-acting, the valves P and f being coupled together so as to work
simultaneously, whilst the valves V and are worked independently of each
other. Before lowering the press the vacuum must be destroyed in the
passages O and e by closing the valves P and f against the vacuum and
opening them to the air, by which means the air has free access to the under
side of the compressed substance, whilst the vacuum is maintained in full
force on the upper side of the said substance by the valves V and I, thereby
causing it to adhere through suction to the surfaces of the strainers S, S,
and h, h, upon the faces of their respective plungers H, H, and I, I. To
remove the compressed substance from the plunger I, I, the valve must be
closed against the vacuum and open to the air, when the vacuum being
destroyed between the strainer h, h, and the compressed substance previously
adherent thereto the said substance falls by its own gravity upon a
"slice,"
shovel, or other suitable appliance for receiving it as it falls. A similar effect
takes place upon the compressed substance adherent to the strainer S; S, on
the face of the plunger H, H, by means of the valve V, but in no case must
the vacuum in the valves V and be destroyed until the "slice" or shovel
above mentioned be placed under the compressed substance whereon to
receive the same..
.
As. under certain further circumstances of expression it may prove desirable
to repress the. fluid-bearing substance, twice or even thrice our Invention
consists, lastly, in using two or more, say, for example, three fluid-bearing
substance carriers composed of confining bands or belts and strainers or
concave-surfaced or other strainers in economical substitution for a second
or third press, and in devoting the lower carrier or strainer to the first
pressing, the middle to the first and second pressings, and the upper to the
first, second, and third pressings, so that whilst the second and third pressings
are going on in the middle and upper carriers or strainers, the lower is also at
work giving the first pressing to a fresh layer of fluid-bearing substance, and
so on in continuous rotation to the end.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim as our
Improvements in Hydrostatic Presses, and in the Mode or Method of
Working the same,”-
66

page_text: 1st, the confining band or belt, as herein-before described and represented
in the accompanying Drawings, incapable of being moved or removed for any
purposes of filling, pressing, or discharging from a vertical line between the
columns of the press.
. 2nd, the curve-surfaced strainers or curve-surfaced strainer and pressing
plunger, as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawings, the one convex and the other concave, in substitution for the said
confining band or belt.
3rd, the formation of the pressing surfaces of the strainers, whether plane
or curved, into concentric or other waves or lines, as herein-before described
and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
4th, the employment of the vacuum produced by an air pump in conjunction
with an exhausted receiver for the purpose of drawing away the expressed
fluid from the upper and lower fluid-bearing substance strainers, or either of
them, as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawings.
5th, the employment of the said vacuum in conjunction with or in
substitution for the discharge rams for discharging the residuary matters
left in carriers formed by the combination of the confining belt or band and
the strainer, or by the concavity of the curve-surfaced straining plate, all as
herein-before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
6th, the compression of the same fluid-bearing substance twice or oftener
in different carriers or receptacles in the same press, in the manner herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Alfred Augustus Hely and John
Marshall, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-ninth
day of September, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
ALFRED AUGUSTUS HELY. (L.B.)
JOHN MARSHALL.
(L.S.)