Improvements in or connected with the Regulation of Hydraulic Power.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Regulation of Hydraulic
Power.
I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a plan of dealing with the pipes by which power water
is led on to premises, such, for example, as private houses, hotels, business premises,
and the like, for the purpose herein set out.
The object of the invention is to produce a simple appliance by which high
pressure water may be used for hoists, lifts, cranes, presses, etc., without the usual
hissing, buzzing, or other vibrating and objectionable note or noises; the said
apparatus to be of a comparatively portable size; not difficult to place in position ;
and one easily adjusted to the work required.
I carry out my object as follows:-Instead of allowing the power water to flow
forward unrestrained to the hydraulic cylinder, or other centre where work is to be
generated, and there reducing its speed, at the valve or other distributing
appliance, I first regulate the flow of the water by passing it through my
apparatus, thereby reducing it to the velocity requisite for accomplishing the work
in the time desired.
The water having done its work, and the exhaust valve being fully opened, it
becomes likewise requisite to regulate the speed of the outflowing water through
the exhaust pipe, and this I accomplish by passing the fluid through a second
apparatus arranged on these outflow pipes, the apparatus being planned on the same
lines as my other.
I lead the water to and fro in ordinary pipes but in order to produce the necessary
regulation of the fluid, and so reduce its speed, I insert a coil or coils in the pipe,
to the number and extent necessary to produce the desired result.
Not only does this mode of introducing coils lead to the best possible regulation
of the water but it lends itself to compactness, a maximum of silent regulation
being produced in a minimum space.
Preferably encase these coils, and between them and the outer case I introduce
sand or other non-vibrating and sound subduing substance, in order to overcome
the residue of vibration that is left, if any.
My arrangements permit me to retain the original making up length of the
regulating piece, however much I lengthen or shorten the coils.
My arrangements will also permit-if so desired-flanges, even where recessed,
to be withdrawn one from another without disturbing the neighbouring pipes.
Dated this 6th day of February 1895.

page_text: Improvements in or connected with the Regulation of Hydraulic
Power.
1, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, 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 statement :--
This invention relates to a plan of dealing with the pipes by which power water
is led on to premises, such, for example, as private houses, hotels, business premises,
and the like, for the purpose herein set out.
The object of the invention is to produce a simple appliance by which high
pressure water may be used for hoists, lifts, cranes, presses, etc., without the usual
hissing, buzzing, or other vibrating and objectionable note or noises; the said
apparatus to be of a comparatively portable size; not difficult to place in position;
and one easily adjusted to the work required.
In order to explain my meaning fully 1 have annexed a drawing, on which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an appliance incorporating my invention; Fig. 2
is a corresponding cross section; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a simpler
arrangement. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal view of a modified form of the appliance,
whilst Fig. 5 shows the lines on which Fig. 4 may be arranged in plan view.
Fig. 6 is another form, and Fig. 7 is a detail of a special union joint.
I carry out my object as follows:-Instead of allowing the power water to flow
forward unrestrained to the hydraulic cylinder, or other centre whose work is to
be generated, and there reducing its speed, at the valve or other distributing
appliance, I first regulate the flow of the water by passing it through my apparatus,
thereby quietly reducing it to the velocity requisite for accomplishing the work in
the time desired.
The water having passed through my appliance and having done its work, say
in an hydraulic cylinder, the exhaust valve being now fully opened, it becomes
likewise requisite to regulate the speel of the outflowing water through the exhaust
pipe, and this I accomplish by passing the fluid through a second apparatus
arranged on the outflow pipes, the apparatus being planned on the same lines as
my other.
I lead the water to and fro in ordinary pipes but in order to produce the
necessary regulation of the fluid, and so reduce its speed, I insert a coil or coils in
the pipe, to the number and extent necessary to produce the desired result.
In Fig. 6, A, which is the main or principal pipe may, for descriptive purposes,
be termed the inlet pipe, and A' the outlet from my silencing appliance, (although
the water may travel either way through). In this arrangement and also in Fig. 1
the water flows through four coils B, C, D and E, which are so arranged that they
are easily screwed together. Any additional number of coils may be added, or, on
the contrary, coils may be taken out of the circuit, if too great a drag has been put
on the water. A and A³, are connecting unions which may be considered fixed
points. Supposing that the last coil E bas been found by experiment to have
produced too much drag, it would be unscrewed, and a pipe F, shown in dots,
would take its place, and so on.
It should be noted that all curves are to be as equal as possible and no special
drag is to be put on the water at any one place. The entire passage through the
tube should in fact be as even as possible, leaving the length of the pipe (whether
of a reduced area or not) in which the friction arises (from the attempted tangential
flow of the water) to reduce the speed gradually.
Where a great change in the diameter of pipes occurs, between the principal
pipe and a coil, it is desirable to bell-mouth the unions, as shown at H in Fig. 7.

page_text: Not only does this mode of introducing coils lead to the best possible regulation
of the water but it lends itself to compactness, a maximum of silent regulation being
produced in a minimum space.
A simple and important arrangement of my appliance is shown in Fig. 3 where
one long coil only is shown. The unions at A2 and A3 show the fixed gap in the
main pipes, and I furnish myself with coils having different numbers of spirals but
all of one length measured between the unions. A coil with a small number of
spirals is first inserted and if that is found insufficient to silence the noise it is
changed for one with a greater number of spirals, and so on, until the requisite
silence is produced. An advantage of this arrangement lies in the fact that there
are no joints except those at the unions. The elasticity of this arrangement is
perfect, allowing joint-making washers to be introduced at the unions, and the
whole afterwards screwed up water tight without trouble. By making the coil
open (that is, with a space between the spirals) it may be compressed to a con-
siderable extent in order to permit recessed flanges to be withdrawn from one
another without disturbing the neighbouring pipes.
It will be found that a greater number of coils are required for silencing purposes
on the exhaust side of the hydraulic cylinder than on the pressure side.
Other things being equal, coils of a smaller diameter across the spiral will
produce more drag than larger ones; and of course smaller internal diameters of
the tube again produce more drag.
Preferably I encase these coils, see casings shown at G, G, and, between the coils
and this outer case, I introduce sand or other non-vibrating and sound subduing
substance, when required, in order to overcome the residue of vibration that is left,
if any.
The coils may be fitted in any position.
Where it is necessary to erect the coils flat against a wall the appliance may
take the modified worm-like form shown in Fig. 4. Such an arrangement gives
great scope for working round corners and the like, as shown in plan in Fig. 5, on
the way to and from the hydraulic cylinders, which are often in awkward corners.
The lids G, Fig. 3, cover the openings in the casing through which the
non-vibrating substance may be introduced as beforementioned. Cases for the flat
coils in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are not shown but any convenient plan may be adopted
such as will enclose sand, or the like.
The casings in Figs. 1 and 3 are supposed to be made in halves and are after-
wards made to enclose the coils, being secured by screws as at G².
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The use of coils arranged in the pipes leading water to and from any centre
where hydraulic power is being applied, the said coils being introduced to produce
tangential friction on the flow of the water, whether through a smaller diameter of
pipe, or not, with the object and for the purpose set forth.
2. The use of silencing coils arranged in connection with hydraulic apparatus,
substantially as described herein and shown on the drawings, with the object aud
for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination of a silencing coil and an outer case capable of holding
and or other sound absorbing substance, substantially as described and shown,
with the object and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 6th day of November 1895.
WM. SNOWDON,
9 Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks, Agent for the Applicant.