Improvements in Hydraulic Presses, particularly adapted for Extracting Oil from Oleaginous Seeds.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept.,
1899
Improvements in Hydraulic Presses, particularly adapted for
Extracting Oil from Oleaginous Seeds.
I, ALEXANDER EUSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Security
Building, City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, 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: —
Figure 1 is à front elevational view, partly in section, of my improved
hydraulic press.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the upper portion of said press.
Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view.
Figure 4 is a partial rear elevational view.
Figure 5 is a detail view illustrating the manner of supporting the plates in
position.
Figure is a similar view illustrating the manner of releasing the plates.
Figure 7 is a detail view of a slightly modified form of the mechanism for
supporting and releasing the plates
Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a top plan view showing one of the columns in section of a modified
form of mechanism for supporting the plates.
Figure 10 is a front elevational view of the construction shown in Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in Figure 9.
Figure 12 is a detail view in section through a portion of two plates, showing
the compressed cake between.
Figure 13 is a front elevational view in modified form illustrating the mechan-
ism for automatically releasing the plates.
Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the same, and
Figure 15 is a top plan view of part of said mechanism.
This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in hydraulic presses
designed particularly for use in extracting oil from oleaginous seeds, such as
linseed.
The object of my present invention is to simplify the construction of the sup-
porting mechanism for the plates in presses of the character described, to increase
the capacity of said presses
In the presses now in use for extracting oil from oleaginous seeds, there are
two well known methods employed for supporting the plates on which the green
cakes are placed preparatory to being subjected to pressure. One method involves
the use of links attached to pins or bolts inserted in the edges of the plates, and
each plate is thus connected to the next adjacent by such links. By this con-
struction, the green cakes are inserted between each plate, a sufficient clearance

page_text: being provided for each cake. Usually there are fifteen plates in presses answer-
ing this description. When the ram ascends it necessarily comes in contact with
the bottom plate, raises it until its carried green cake comes in contact with the
plate next above, and so on, the initial movement of the ram being depended
upon to overcome the clearance between the plates and each cake, or say, about 5
15 to 20 inches in a press having from 15 to 20 plates. The links of course
move over their pins or bolts when the cam thus rises, and after all clearance
has been overcome by the movement of the ram, the cakes are sub-
A
jected to pressure. When the ram descends, the total number, fifteen
to twenty plates, is suspended at equal distances governed by the length
of the links between. The pressed cakes are then removed, and the green cakes
inserted in their places, and the same cycle of operations is repeated.
Another method is to place a metal rack or frame on either side of the press,
which rack or frame is formed with a series of steps at unequal distances apart
The plates in the press are provided with suitable projections located at vary-
ing distances apart to co-operate respectively with proper steps, so that as the
ram descends, the plate having the projections closest together, will be sup-
ported on the top steps, the second plate on the second steps, and so on, until the
ram has reached its lowest position, when all of the plates will be supported by
their proper steps. In this construction, from fifteen to twenty plates are employed,
and it is necessary to have a clearance between each plate for the introduction
and proper manipulation of the green cake, which clearance has to be overcome
by the ram in its initial upward movement, and provided for by the ram in its
final descending movement.
My invention contemplates a construction which dispenses with this clearance,
thereby adding from 25 to 50% to the capacity of each press,
without increasing
the size of the press, and, furthermore, the descent of each plate according to
my invention, is under immediate control of the operator, instead of following
the ram as it descends.
My invention consists in the provision of a number of supports suitably
mounted on the press, for co-operating with the individual plates, for supporting
said plates, or for releasing each individual plate. Another feature of my inven-
tion resides in the novel construction of the plates themselves, wherein I dispense
with the use of hair or other form of mats attached to the plates, above and
below the cakes; and, finally the invention consists in the construction, arrange-
ment and combination of the several parts, all as will hereinafter be described,
and afterwards pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings A indicates a column, of which there are usually four, pass-
ing at each end through a head piece B, and a base plate C. On the base plate C
is arranged a cylinder D, carrying a piston or plunger E, which latter is raised
or lowered according to the will of the operator, by the introduction of hydraulic
pressure thereunder, through a pipe d. The above parts are common to most
hydraulic presses now in use for the purpose of extracting oil from oleaginous
'seeds.
F indicates the plates preferably used, which plates are arranged in the press
between the columns, and guided in their vertical movement by rods G, said
plates having lugs f on each side thereof, embracing said guide rods. The two
side and front edges of my improved plate are provided with ribs f¹, on their
upper faces, the rear side being left open to conduct off the oil as it exudes from
the pressed cake, the press as an entirety being slightly tilted to conduct off
the oil at this point A panel F¹ is provided in each plate, which panel is formed
by transversely arranged corrugations, said corrugations being so positioned
that they match each other in their respective plates, so that the thickness of
the cake is substantially equal throughout its length. By providing these panels
in the plates, such panels being an integral part of the plates, I dispense with
the use of hair mats, and all the labor of securing separate panels or mats in
position on the upper and lower faces of each plate. Furthermore, by having

page_text: fixed corrugations above and below the cakes to be pressed, I prevent said cake
from spreading, and by having an equal thickness throughout the cake, all parts
of the cake are pressed evenly, so that said cake will test out more uniformly
with respect to the percentage of oil remaining therein after pressure, than with
other systems.
Mounted on the columns A, (although I do not wish to confine myself to these
main columns as supports for the supporting mechanism, as other supports may
be provided if desired), are rotatable plate supports H, properly spaced apart by
rings or collars I, clamped in position on the columns A. These plate sup-
ports H, which I will term supporting rings, are radially increased in diameter
at h, as shown more clearly in Figures 3, 5 and 6, and by rotating said rings,
the projections may be turned under, or removed from, the respective plates.
A lug or projection h', extends from each ring, outside of the column, to which
lug is connected a rod J, having a suitable handle j, at its forward end, by which
the same may be reciprocated to rotate said supporting rings. By this con-
struction it will be noticed that four rings being substantially on a horizontal
plane, can be moved so that their projections h will pass under a plate, the plate
being in the proper position, for the purpose of supporting said plate. However,
it is desirable to so connect these four rings that they will be moved in unison,
either to place their projections h under the plate to be supported, or remove
their projections h from under said plate, and permit the same to drop. I there-
fore, connect the rear ends of rods J, with a lever K being pivoted on a rod L,
mounted in suitable brackets in the rear of the press.
In Figure 5, the four supporting rings are shown in position to support a
plate, but it will be obvious that, upon pulling rod J outwardly, at the right hand
side of the press, said rod will operate its two connected supporting rings, so as
to cause the same to assume the position shown in Figure 6, that is, be moved
from under the plate, and through the instrumentality of lever K, the two rings
at the left side of the press will be simultaneously operated to throw their pro-
jections out of the path of the same plate. The projections h, as shown in
Figures 5 and 6, are preferably formed with flat sides, so that the supporting
rings can be stamped from a single die, or cast from a single pattern, and be
used either as rights or lefts, the square portion of the projection releasing the
plate positively, instead of supporting it on a fine point just before releasing,
as would be the case if said projection were rounded.
There are a number of these supporting rings arranged on the four columns
of the press, in such position as to engage all of the plates when the ram is at
its highest position, and the pressing action of the cakes is completed.
Assuming for the purpose of description, that the ram is at its highest point,
as shown in Figure 2, in which position all the oil has been extracted from the
cakes. While the ram is still at its highest point, all of the supporting rings
are rotated so as to place their carried projections h under the respective plates,
so that each and every plate will be supported by said rings. The ram is now
permitted to drop, say three or four inches, and the pressed cake is removed from
the head thereof, and a green cake inserted in its place. By proper manipulation
of one of the rods J, the supports are removed from the lowest plate, and the
ram permitted to descend sufficiently to enable the operator to remove the pressed
cake, and insert a green cake on said plate in its stead. The next plate above
is dropped in the same way, its pressed cake being removed, and a green cake
inserted, this operation of loading the ram step by step, and dropping the plates
individually for the purpose of removing the pressed cakes and introducing the
green cakes, being continued until the ram occupies its lowest position, when
all of the supporting rings will be moved out of the path of their respective
plates, and the green cakes in position to be pressed when the ram next ascends.
By this construction, it will be noticed that the only clearance necessary when the
press is charged to its full capacity, is the clearance for the last cake introduced

page_text: on the top plate. The operator may, instead of starting and stopping the ram
the
at each removal of the dry cake and introduction of the green cake, on
release of plates, start the ram slowly in its descending movement drop a plate,
remove the dry cake, and insert a green one, and so on, accommodating the
removal and insertion of cakes according to the speed of the descent of the ram 5
without further control thereof
I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to the exact mechanism
above described for releasing the plates, as there are other devices which can be
employed with equal facility. In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown another form
in which a slide M is arranged in a suitable bearing clamped to the column, said
slide being operated by a jog or bend in a rod N, acting as a cam in a slot in the
outer end of said slide. By this construction, when rod N is moved in one
direction, the slide will be forced inwardly, and when the rod is moved in the other
direction, said slide will be moyed outwardly. In Figures 9, 10 and 11, I have
shown another form, in which a bell crank lever is pivotally supported on a collar
clamped to the column, the inner member of said lever being adapted to engage
the plate while the outer end of said lever, marked in the drawing, is operated
by a sliding rod P, provided with an inclined portion, or said rod 1 may be
rotated as a crank to throw the bell crank lever, in which latter construction the
slot in the outer end of the bell crank lever would have to be elongated.
.
It is likewise obvious that instead of manually manipulating the plate supports,
that mechanism can be provided for automatically releasing the plates as the ram
descends, so that the operator can remove and insert cakes according to the speed
of said descent and release of the plates, the plate supports being held out of
operative position until the ram has again risen and completed its pressing
operation, when it would again automatically release the plates upon its descent.
In Figures 13, 14 and 15 I have illustrated a construction for accomplishing
the above, in which a rack Q, is attached to the ram for operating a pinion q,
in mesh with a gear R, to which is conjoined a pinion r, driving a rack S. This
rack carries on its upper end a dog s, operating as a cam against the rods J,
which are slotted for the passage of the rack S. It will be noted from the above
construction that, when the ram is descending, it will cause the rod S to ascend,
and the plates being so much closer together, the speed of the ram is reduced to
accommodate the cam s, to the nest of rods J. As rods J are about an inch apart,
and as it desired to drop a plate at every three inches movement of the ram, the
gearing is made three to one. The dogs, operates on the first or lowest rod J,
to move the same rearwardly, and by so doing, release the lowest plate, which
plate drops on the ram head, the pressed cake is removed, and a green cake, as
indicated at a, placed in position. The ram now descends a further distance, say
three inches, when the cam dogs forces the next rod J, above, to the rear, releas-
ing the second lowest plate, as shown in Figure 13, so that the pressed cake
marked can be removed, and a green cake inserted. It will be noticed that, as
each plate drops, it falls on the soft, green cake, and little or no damage is done
to the plate, or the cake upon which its falls. After the rod S has reached its
highest point, and dropped all the plates, at which time we will assume the press
is charged, the ram now ascends, and in so doing, the rod S, descends, its cam
dog s, folding up so as not to operate any of the rods J in its descent.
I am aware that minor changes in the arrangement, construction and com-
bination of several parts of my device may be made and substituted for those
herein shown and described, without in the least, departing from the nature and
principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a press, the combination with a plurality of plates of a plurality of

page_text: individually operable supports for each plate, and independently operable means
for throwing said supports into and out of position with respect to said plates;
substantially as described.
2. In a press, the combination with a plurality of plates, of a plurality of
support for each of said plates, and independently operable mechanism for operat-
ing all the supports for a single plate in unison, so as to throw said supports into
or out of the path of the movement of said plate; substantially as described.
3. In a press, the combination of a plurality of plates, of guide rods for the
a plurality of supports for each of said plates, and independently operable con-
nections between all the supports for an individual plate, whereby said supports
may be operated in unison to engage with or be disengaged from their respective
plates; substantially as described.
same,
4. In a press, the combination of a plurality of independently movable plates,
of supports adapted to co-operate with said plates approximately in their press-
ing position, and independently operable means for actuating said supports to
throw the same into and out of engagement with their respective plates; sub-
stantially as described.
5. In a press, the combination with the columns and the plates, of a plurality
of supporting rings mounted on said columns for each plate, projections h on
said rings for engagement with the plates, and means for rotating a number of
said rings so that their projections will be thrown in unison into or out of engage-
ment with a plate; substantially as described.
6. In a press, the combination with a plurality of columns and a plate, of
rings mounted on the columns in the same horizontal plane, projections extending
from the rings, and rods connected to said rings for rotating the same in unison
and throwing the projections into and out of the path of the plate; substantially
as described
7. In a press, the combination with the columns and a plate, of rings H
mounted on said columns, and having projections h for engaging said_plate,
rods J connected to projections extending from said rings, and a lever K con-
necting one end of said rods J; substantially as described.
8. In a press, the combination with the columns, a plurality of plates, guide
rods co-operating therewith, a plurality of supporting rings for each plate, said
rings being mounted on the columns, and means for operating all of the support-
ing rings co-operating with a single plate, said means comprising rods J, con-
nected to said rings, said rods being provided with suitable handles at one end,
a lever K, and links k, connecting said lever with the rear end of said rods J;
substantially as described.
9. In a press, the combination with the plates, of means for supporting each
individual plate, a ram, and means connected to, and operated by the ram for
automatically operating said plate supporting means to successively release the
plates substantially as described.
10. In a press, the combination with the ram and the plates, of means for
supporting said plates, and means for automatically releasing said plates as the
ram descends; substantially as described.
11. In a press, the combination with the ram and plates, of plate supports,
co-operating with said plates, for holding the same in approximately their press-
ing position, and mechanism connected to and operated by the ram for auto-
matically operating said plate supports to release the plates in succession;
substantially as described.
12. In a press, the combination with the ram, and a plurality of plates, of sup-
porting mechanism for co-operating with said plates and holding the same
approximately in their pressing position, and a connection between said ram
and said plate supporting mechanism for operating the latter to release the
plates substantially as described.
13. In a press, the combination with the ram and the plates, of plate supports

page_text: for different plates, all of the supports for a single plate being connected together,
á rod carrying means for operating said plate supports, and means connected to;
and operated by the ram, for actuating said rod; substantially as described.
11
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J
August 1900
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London,
For the Applicant.