IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC LIFTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sidengham Duer, of Westminster Chambers, Victoria
Street, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC LIFTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sidengham Duer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th June 1879.
SIDENGHAM DUER, of Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, Civil Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC LIFTS."
"
This Invention relates mainly to means for transferring barges and other floating
vessels from higher to lower levels, and vice versa, without the use of locks, which
necessitate the expenditure of a large amount of time and of water in the transfer
of such vessels.
The present Invention consists in certain improvements on hydraulic lifts such
as are now in use at Anderton in Cheshire for connecting the navigation of the
Trent and Mersey Canal with that of the River Weaver, whereby the transference
of vessels of any tonnage from one level to another may be effected with great
facility, and the liability of accident from a failure of the apparatus will be removed.
The troughs for receiving the floating vessels I mount each upon one or more pairs
of hydraulic presses so arranged as to ensure an even distribution of the load upon
the rams, and the presses of the two lifts I so connect together as to utilize the
weight of the descending load for lifting the load that is required to be raised.
When mounting the troughs each upon two presses I place these presses together
at or near the centre of the trough, so that should one press fail the other will be
enabled to support the load. The presses of the two lifts I connect by cross pipes
in such a manner as to couple the corresponding cylinders of the two lifts together.
These cross pipes I fit with stop valves which are connected together by link rods
or gearing so as to ensure the simultaneous turning on or off of both valves. These
cross pipes I severally connect by two pipes, one on either side of the stop valve,
with an accumulator consisting of two cylinders and two rams (loaded to suit the
weight intended to be lifted) which accumulator serves to complete the ascent of
the rising load. The pipes from the accumulator are each fitted with a stop valve,
and the valves of each group of pipes leading to their respective lifts are connected
together so as to ensure their simultaneous action.

page_text: The troughs into which the vessels are floated are fitted at their opposite ends
with gates, and these troughs are respectively brought into line with an aquaduct
(similarly provided with gates) for effecting the transference of a vessel from the
trough to the aquaduct, or vice versa.
To utilize the weight of a descending load for raising another, the two lifts, one
being raised and the other depressed, will receive simultaneously their respective
loads, then by opening the communication between the presses of the two lifts, the
water in the cylinders of the uppermost lift will pass into the cylinders of the other
lift. The rising rams will thus be caused to lift their load to the height due to the
counter-balancing weight of the descending load, after which the stop valves in
the pipe coupling the two lifts must be closed. To complete the rise of the load
the accumulator is now to be brought into action; this is effected by opening a
communication between the accumulator and the presses of the rising lift by
means of the stop valves in the coupling pipes, and the trough will thus be lifted
into line with the aquaduct at the same time the water in the presses of the
descending lift is run out to allow of that lift descending to its lowest level. It
only remains now to raise the adjacent gates of the raised trough and the aquaduct,
when the water level in the trough will be brought to the height of that in the
aquaduct and the vessel can then be floated out.
The next vessel required to be lowered is now to be floated into the raised trough,
and so soon as the gates are closed, and the connection with the accumulator is cut
off, the descent of the raised trough may commence.
Meanwhile the vessel in the depressed trough will be floated out into the river or
canal at the lower level and replaced by another required to be raised.
A repetition of the action above described will now take place on opening the
valves in the press coupling pipes, and when the descending and ascending loads are
in equilibrium these valves will be closed, and the accumulator being brought into
communication with the presses of the rising lift that lift will in its turn be raised
to its highest level.
For steadying the vertical motions of the troughs I provide fixed guides over
which slide guide blocks carried by the troughs.
When constructing lifts on a large scale I propose to use two, three, or more pairs
of presses for each lift; the cylinders of these presses I connect together by pipes in
such manner as to equalize the strain of the load upon the presses in the event of a
cylinder leaking.
When employing, for example, three pairs of presses, of which let 1, 2, 3, represent
one group supporting one end of a trough, and 4, 5, 6, a second group of
presses supporting the opposite end of the trough (all the presses being ranged by
preference in the centre line of the trough) I connect the presses by means of
coupling pipes; thus, viz., 1 with 6, 2 with 5, and 3 with 4. The coupling pipes of
one lift I connect by cross pipes with the corresponding coupling pipes of the other
lift, and I thus ensure the maintainance of a proper counterbalance between the two
lifts.
In order the better to maintain the efficiency of the lifts I connect the presses of
each group together by tubes of small bore, which by allowing of an inflow from
one cylinder to another will equalize the height of the column of water in all
the cylinders, and thus neutralize the effect of a small leak in any one of the
cylinders.
The accumulator I provide in this case with three cylinders and rams corre-
sponding to the number of pairs of presses in each lift. Thus, should one pair of
presses fail this is compensated for by the consequent failure of that press of the
accumulator which is connected therewith.
The above described arrangement of lift I propose to employ in connection with
platforms (in the place of troughs) for receiving vehicles, passengers, and goods, and
transfering the same to a higher or a lower level.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Sidengham Duer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th December
1879.
SIDENGHAM DUER, of Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC LIFTS."
This Invention relates to that class of lifts which is used in place of locks for
transferring barges and other floating vessels from higher to lower lovels, and vice
vered, the object being to remove the liability of accident from a failure of the
apparatus. These lifts as hitherto constructed have been worked by a single press,
supplemented by an accumulator press. If therefore a serious defect were to take
place in the press which carries the lift while the lift was raised, the lift and its
load would have nothing to support it, and consequently serious accident would be
unavoidable. I now propose to support each lift by two or more presses, which
will be connected with the corresponding presses of the opposite lift in such a
manner as to ensure a reciprocal counterbalance action of the lifts. I also propose
to employ an accumulator press for completing the raising of the lifts, such accumu-
lator press being so arranged as to act in exact proportion to the degree of efficiency
of the lift presses.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shewn in several views the inode of
carrying out my Invention. Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent in side elevation, end
view, and plan a pair of lifts fitted each with two pairs of presses, the same being
ranged in a line corresponding with the centre line drawn longitudinally through
the lift. In these Figures A, A¹, are troughs for receiving the floating vessels
intended to be raised or lowered. These troughs are mounted each upon four
hydraulic presses a, b, c, and d, and a¹, b', c', and d'. These presses I connect
together in pairs, as shewn in the diagram, Fig. 4, by coupling pipes e, e*, and
e, e. Thus the presses a and & will form a pair, and the presses b and c will
form a second pair; the object of this arrangement will be explained hereafter.
The pair of presses a, d, of the one lift I connect with the pair of presses a³, d¹, of
the other lift by means of a transverse connecting pipe f, which forms a commu-
nication between the two coupling pipes e, e'; and the pair of presses b, c, I connect
with the pair of presses b', c', in a similar manner by means of a transverse con-
necting pipe f*.
These connecting pipes f. f*, I fit with valves g, g*, and these valves g, g*, I
connect together by link rods or gearing (not shewn in the Drawing) in such a
manner as to ensure the simultaneous turning on or off of both valves. On either
side of these valves I connect their pipes with an accumulator C by means of pipes
h, h, h, h, provided with stop valves i, i¹, i*, i*. The accumulator consists of
two hydraulic presses k, k¹, the rams of which are coupled together by cross-girders,
which serve to carry a counterweight consisting of stones, loose earth, or any
equivalent weighty material. The accumulator presses I bring into communication
with suitable force pumps, which being in constant action will maintain the
requisite water pressure in the cylinders k, k³, for raising the ascending lift above
the height attained by the counterbalance action of the descending lift. In Figures
1 and 2 D represents the lower water level, and E the higher water level, to and
from which my improved counterbalance lifts are intended to transfer the floating
vessels. D may be supposed to represent a river level, and E the level of a raised
canal, which is connected with the lift by an aqueduct fitted with a central division
for formning it into channels. The channels are closed by gates, and the troughs
A, A¹, which are intended to fit (when raised) close against the ends of the channels,
are similarly furnished at their opposite ends with gates. Supposing now that one
of the troughs is brought into line with its corresponding channel, as at A, Figures
1 and 2, and the gates to have been opened to admit a vessel from the aqueduct
to the trough, the water in the trough is raised to the level of that in the aqueduct,

page_text: and the vessel is now floated into the trough. The gates are then to be closed, and
the lifts are ready for action, a vessel having in like manner been floated from the
river into the depressed trough A, and shut therein.
To utilize the weight of the descending load for raising the other a commu-
nication is to be opened between the presses of the two lifts by means of the
valves g, g*. The water in the cylinders of the upper lift A will then pass into
the cylinders of the lower lift A'. The rising rams of the presses a', b, c, d, will
thus be caused to lift their load to the height due to the counterbalancing weight
of the descending load, after which the stop valves g and g* in the pipes and ƒ*
connecting the two lifts must be closed. To complete the rise of the load the
accumulator C is now to be brought into action. This is effected by opening a
communication between the accumulator and the presses of the rising lift A' by
means of the stop valves i, i*, and the trough will thus be lifted into line with the
aqueduct. At the same time the water in the presses of the descending lift is to
be run out to allow of that lift descending to its lowest level. It only remains now
to raise the adjacent gates of the raised trough and the aqueduct, when the water
level in the trough will be brought to the height of that in the aqueduct, and the
vessel can then be floated out.
The next vessel required to be lowered is now to be floated into the raised
trough, and so soon as the gates are closed and the connection with the accumu-
lator is cut off the descent of the raised trough may commence. Meanwhile the
vessel in the depressed trough may have been floated out into the river or canal at
the lower level, and replaced by another required to be raised. A repetition of the
action above described will now take place on opening the valves g, g*, in the press
coupling pipes, and when the descending and ascending loads are in the equilibrium
these valves are to be closed. The accumulator being next brought into commu-
nication with the presses of the rising lift that lift will in its turn be raised to its
highest level.
For steadying the vertical motions of the troughs I provide fixed guides F, F, F,
over which slide guide blocks carried by the troughs. This is best illustrated at
Figures 5 and 6, which shew the construction of the guides and guide blocks on an
enlarged scale; Fig. 5 being a plan view of a central tower fitted with guides in
two forms; and Fig. 6 a partial side view of one of the troughs with guide
blocks G, G, attached thereto. Of these towers I employ three, but a larger
number may be employed if preferred. These towers stand up on either side of
the troughs at or near their centres, as shewn at Fig. 3, and present guides for the
guide blocks to run over. As the troughs are always as nearly as possible balanced
on the presses they consequently only require guides of very moderate strength to
insure that they shall ascend and descend horizontally. The towers for carrying the
guides may be conveniently constructed of iron or steel plates and bars built up
and braced together in any well known manner. When a trough has any tendency
to tip from its horizontal position the towers will be pressed upon in an opposite
direction by the guide blocks attached to the troughs, and by their resistance the
troughs will be kept horizontal.
I would remark that I am aware that the guides may be varied considerably in
the details of construction, and I have shewn two typical modifications in Fig. 5,
one half of which Figure shews three sets of guide blocks pressing internally on the
towers, while the other half shows only two sets of guide blocks working externally
against the towers.
I have stated that the presses of each lift are coupled together in pairs, and that
the corresponding pairs of the two lifts are also connected with each other. The
advantage of thus connecting the presses together is that should one press, say a,
fail, the press d coupled with it will be rendered inoperative, and the weight of the
load will then be supported by the presses b and c, there being no unequal strain
created; at the same time the corresponding presses a¹, d', of the other lift will also
be rendered inoperative, and thus the action of the two lifts will be equalized.
Although the arrangement of the presses in the way which I have described

page_text: prevents the fall of a trough, if a press becomes useless considerable straining night
still at times occur to the lifts during ordinary working, from small leaks through
the defective packing of the presses or otherwise causing some of the presses to
contain more water than others. To prevent this I connect all the presses of each
trough together by small pipes L, L, Fig. 4. As these pipes will allow of an inflow
from one cylinder to another the height of the column of water will be equalized in
all the presses, and thus the effect of a small leak from any one of the cylinders
will be neutralized.
In Fig. 7 I have shewn an arrangement of presses for a pair of lifts suitable for
heavier work than the apparatus shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. In this arrange-
ment three pairs of presses are provided for each lift.
The mode of coupling these presses together is similar to that described with
reference to the before mentioned Figures. No further description therefore of the
same will be required. When constructing lifts on a small scale suitable for raising
and lowering vessels of small tonnage I mount each trough upon two presses
arranged as indicated in the diagram, Fig. 8. In this case the presses a and b are
placed close together, as near the centre of gravity of the trough as may be. The
cylinders of these presses will have no connection with each other except through
small bore pipes 1, 2, which serve the purpose, as before explained, of neutralizing
small leaks. The corresponding presses of the two lifts I however connect together,
as before explained, fitting their connecting pipes with stop valves g, g*, which,
through links or gearing, will be caused to move simultaneously, and thereby apply
the counterbalance action of the lifts, or stop it off, as already explained. In like
manner these connecting pipes will be brought into communication with a two-
cylinder accumulator at opposite sides of their stop valves by pipes h, h, and these
pipes h will be fitted with stop valves i, i, coupled together in pairs so as to act
together on either of the lifts. By using this arrangement of presses for small
lifts it will be understood that should one press a fail the press b will support the
weight of the load; and by reason of the connection of the presses of the two lifts
the counterbalance will be maintained, that is to say, the failure of a press a of
one lift will ensure the throwing out of action of a corresponding press a' of the
other lift.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Hy-
draulic Lifts," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it
to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
First. Mounting the troughs of counterbalance lifts each upon two or more
presses, the presses of such lifts being connected together, and with the presses of
an accumulator, in the manner and for the purpose above described.
Secondly. In combination with the troughs of lifts supported each upon two or
more hydraulic rams as explained, the vertical guides and guide blocks for main-
taining the horizontality of the troughs.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sidengham Duer, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.