Improvements in Hydraulic or Steam Presses.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic or Steam Presses.
We, JoHN P. RANDERSON, Contractor and Inventor, resident of 223 North
Pearl Street, in the City of Albany, and County of Albany and State of New
York, United States of America and JOHN MITTON SEWARD, Coutractor and
Inventor, also of 223 North Pearl Street, in the City of Albany, County of
Albany, and State of New York, United States of America do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
specification:-
Our invention relates to hydraulic clutches, or grips, and particularly to such
devices when employed in connection with dredging apparatus, or similar mechanism,
though the invention may be used wherever clutches or grips are employed, and
the object thereof is to produce a device of this character which may be operated
either by water or steam, and which is simple in construction, and effective in
operation.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawings form a part, in which ;-
Fig. 1, represents our improved clutch or grip as applied in a dredging
boat;
Fig. 2, a sectional view thereof on line x, x, showing also a section of the air
cushion cylinder employed, and the bottom of the boat; and
Figs. 3 and 4, represent details of the construction, and the operation
thereof; and
Fig. 5, illustrates our improved clutch or grip operating the arms W of a
dredge or scoop.
In the practice of our invention the pressure force, or power, is derived either
from the hydraulic pumps or a steam boiler, neither of which is shown, or from any
other source.
In the event of steam being used, it is first passed through a condenser A, shown
in Figs. 1 and 2. It is very essential to employ a condenser when steam is used,
for the reason that the clutches or grips are preferably packed with leather, and
hot, or highly heated steam would destroy the packing, and the steam is supplied
by a pipe B, which communicates with the boiler.
If water is employed instead of steam, the condenser will be omitted, but in
either case, the steam or water, whichever is employed, passes through a peculiarly
constructed three-way valve C, passing thereinto, through a pipe D, which com-
municates with the condenser if steam is used, or with a force pump or pumps, not
shown if water is used.
The object of this valve is to enable the operator to apply the pressure to, or
release the same from, the clutch very gradually, or to hold the pressure at any
desired point thereon, at will.
The water or steam enters the three-way valve C, at one side thereof, at E,
passes into the center of the valve and is carried to the clutches or grip by a pipe F,
and then comes back through the same pipe F, and is discharged from the valve
by means of a side pipe G, opposite the supply pipe D, which also communicates
with the center of the valve, or is adapted to be placed in communication therewith
by means of a passage H, therein, a similar passage J, being also formed in the
valve with which the supply pipe D, may be placed in communication.
The valve and its casing are taperingly fitted, by which means the valve is

page_text: constantly working down to its seat and thus tends to keep tight, and the valve is
opened by a lever K, a slight movement of which will apply or release the pressure
to, or from the clutch or grip, quickly or gradually, as desired, and a great power
can readily be controlled thereby with the exercise of but slight physical force on
the part of the operator.
Connected with the pipe F, between the valve and clutch, is an air cushion
reservoir L, which is in communication with said pipe, the air within which acts as
a cushion, the object of which is to regulate the pressure on the clutch or grip and
counter balance any quick increase or decrease thereof, and maintain the pressure
at the desired point, so as to allow the device clamped to slip, or to be held firmly,
under various strains or conditions, in the operation of the machine.
The clutch or grip, M is attached, rigidly to the shaft and revolves therewith,
and the water or steam enters and is discharged at the center thereof, through
a swiveled stuffing box O, and the power is applied to a piston P, shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 1, and, through it to the friction plates or heads R, by means of a
center pin S, connected with the clutch or grip in the usual manner.
The condenser A, is placed in a tank T, provided with a stand pipe U, which
extends through the bottom V, of the vessel in which the apparatus is located, and
the arrangement is such that the tank is alternately discharging warm water
through said stand pipe, and taking in cold water therethrough which condenses or
cools the steam to some extent and keeps it ready for the clutch or grip and this
operation of the tank and stand pipe, is made possible by the movement of the
careening of the boat. or vessel, or the side, or endwise movement, of the latter,
which is almost constant, causing the operation of discharging, and taking in water
through the stand pipe, as will be readily understood, as shown in Fig. 4.
By our invention we are enabled to apply the clutch or grip, to engage the
movable parts of any machinery where such devices are employed, and to cause the
clutch or grip to take a firm and rigid hold, or a partial and movable hold, and
to accomplish this quickly and easily, at the will of the operator, and with but
slight exertion on his part.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A condenser for steam or other clutches or grips, used in connection with a
boat, consisting of a steam box, or receptacle, through which the steam is
passed, a tank in which said steam box or receptacle is placed, and a stand pipe
in said tank, which extends through the bottom of the boat, and is open at both
ends, whereby water is admitted to said tank and discharged therefrom, by the
movement of the boat, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a hydraulic or steam clutch or grip, or similar apparatus the combination
of a steam or water supply pipe, a three-way valve connected therewith, a pipe
communicating with the center of said valve and with the clutch or grip, and a
discharge pipe also communicating with said valve, and said valve being provided
with means for the operation thereof, the construction and arrangement being such
that the water or steam enters the valve, passes into and from the center thereof
to the clutch or grip, and is returned to the center of the valve from which it is
discharged, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a hydraulic or steam clutch or grip, or similar apparatus the combination
with a supply pipe, of a three-way valve connected therewith, a pipe communicating
with the center of said valve and with the clutch or grip and an air cushion
chamber connected with and communicating with said last named pipe, substantially
as shown and described.
4. In a hydraulic or steam clutch or grip, or similar apparatus, the combination
of a supply pipe, a condenser in communication therewith, a pipe leading therefrom,
a three-way valve in communication therewith, a pipe in communication with the
center of the three-way valve, and with the clutch or grip, and an air cushion

page_text: chamber connected with and communicating with said last named pipe, said three-
way valve being also provided with a discharge pipe adapted to communicate with
the center of said valve, substantially as shown and described.
5. In a hydraulic or steam clutch or grip, or similar apparatus, the combination
of a supply pipe, a three-way valve connected therewith, a pipe connected with
the three-way valve and with the clutch or grip and an air cushion chamber
connected and communicating with said last named pipe, a discharge pipe also
communicating with said valve, and a lever or other device for operating the
valve, substantially as shown and described.
6. In a hydraulic or steam clutch or grip, or similar apparatus, the combination
of a supply pipe communicating with said clutch or grip, a clutch or grip rigidly
mounted on a shaft and revolving therewith, a stuffing box through which the steam
or water passes and means for applying the power, substantially as shown and
described.
7. In a hydraulic or steam clutch or grip, or similar apparatus, the combination
of a supply pipe communicating with said clutch or grip, a clutch or grip rigidly
mounted on a shaft and revolving therewith, a stuffing box through which the
steam or water passes and means for applying the power consisting of a piston
within the clutch or grip provided with a pin or rod, substantially as shown and
described.
8. In a hydraulic or steam clutch or grip or similar apparatus the combination
of a simple pipe, a three-way valve connected therewith, a pipe communicating
with the center of said valve and with the clutch or grip, and an air cushion
chamber connected with and communicating with said last named pipe, a clutch or
grip rigidly mounted on a shaft and adapted to revolve therewith, and means con-
nected with said valve, and means for operating the valve, substantially as shown
and described.
Dated December 23rd 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.