IMPROVEMENTS IN FRESSES USED FOR PRESSING GOODS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Stewart, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County
of Northumberland, & of Bombay, in the East Indies, Engineer, for
the invention
10 TO
IMPROVEMENTS IN FRESSES USED FOR PRESSING GOODS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Stewart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
September 1859.
I, DAVID STEWART, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of Northumberland,
& of Bonibay, in the East Indies, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES USED FOR PRESSING GOODS,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in presses relate principally to presses used
for pressing and packing cotton in bales. I construct my presses with the
chamber in which the cotton is pressed between two strong uprights or
standards, the bottom of such chamber consisting of a table resting on an
hydraulic ram; the piston or packing ram depends from above between
the uprights, and enters the packing or pressure chamber from above;
it is guided above by guides in the uprights, the cross head or pin of the ram
taking into such guides, & connecting rods taking on to the cross head or pin
are connected at lower ends to crank pins fixed in the periphery of a wheel,

page_text: by preference, having the circumference or rim extending only to about
three-quarters of the circle. This wheel is heavily weighted on one side, being
made of a form to present such difference of weight, for the purpose of
elevating the ram and returning the machine to position to repeat each
succeeding pressing operation. The peripheries of these wheels are formed
with ratchet teeth, and both are firmly keyed on one shaft; palls take into
these ratchet wheels, for the purpose of communicating motion to the wheels,
which palls are actuated by excentrics formed on another strong shaft; or it
may be by cranks; this excentric shaft has a large strong spur wheel fixed on
it, which takes into a small pinion fixed on the drum shaft, from which the
motion is to be communicated; further multiplication of the power may be
applied by increasing the combination of spur or other gear. These shafts are
mounted on bearings fixed to or forming part of the uprights, while the ratchet
wheel and shaft is in such position, that the motion communicated by the
crank pin and connecting rod to the pressing ram is quick, and possesses less
force when the cotton is being first pressed by it, but which becomes slower,
and possesses greater force as it approaches the extreme of its movement,
when the goods are sufficiently compressed, by reason of the relative positions
the connecting rod assumes with the line of pressure. The power is thus
direct acting, and the axis of the ratchet wheels being a little on one side of
the uprights, while the crank pin at the point of extreme pressure is a little
After the bale is
on the other side, no unequal strain is thrown on the uprights.
compressed and secured, the small bydraulic ram supporting the table below
is lower by allowing the escape of the water, when this ram and table
descends, which is only a few inches, it acts by a rod or other connection to
throw out the palls from the ratchet teeth, thus releiving the weighted wheel,
which revolves in the backward direction by its own gravity, thus elevating
the pressing ram in readiness for another pressing operation. When the
hydraulic ram and table is again pushed up the palls are again thrown into
gear, when the operation may be again repeated. The pressure chamber for
receiving the goods and the length of stroke may be arranged according to the
kind of goods to be pressed, the ratchet or crank pin wheels always, however,
performing less than half a revolution, and usually not more than one-third.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Stewart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th March 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID'
STEWART, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of Northumberland, and of
Bombay, in the East Indies, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said David Stewart, Her special licence that I, the said David Stewart, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said David
Stewart, my 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 Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES
USED FOR PRESSING GOODS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
David Stewart, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, 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 I, the said David Stewart, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
.
My Invention of improvements in presses relate principally to presses used:
for pressing and packing cotton in bales. I construct my presses with the.
chamber in which the cotton is pressed between two strong uprights or
standards, the bottom of such chamber consisting of a table resting on an.
hydraulic ram; the piston or packing ram depends from above between the
uprights, and enters the packing or pressure chamber from above; it is guided:
above by guides in the uprights, the cross head or pin of the ram taking into.
such guides; connecting rods take on to the cross head or pin, and are con--
nected at their lower ends to crank pin or pins fitted or fixed in the periphery

page_text: of a wheel, by preference, having the circumference or rim extending to about
three-quarters of the circle only. I employ two such wheels, one being
disposed on either side of the centre of the machine; these wheels are heavily
weighted, one part of their periphery being made of a form to present such
difference of weight, for the purpose of elevating the ram, and returning the
machine to position in readiness to repeat each succeeding pressing operation.
The peripheries of these wheels are formed with ratchet teeth, and both are
firmly keyed on the same shaft; palls take into these ratchet teeth, whereby
motion is communicated to them; these palls are actuated by eccentrics on
another strong shaft, or it may be cranks; these eccentrics I form of a piece
with the shaft, which has a large strong spur wheel fixed in it, which takes
into a small pinion fixed on the drum shaft, from which the motion is to be
communicated; further multiplication of the power by increasing the com-
bination of spur or other gear may be resorted to, if necessary. These shafts
are mounted in bearings on frames fixed to or forming parts of the uprights
before mentioned, the ratchet wheel shaft being in such position that the
motion as transmitted by the crank pin and connecting rod to the pressing
ram is quick, and possesses the least force when the cotton is being first
pressed, but which becomes slower with the continuance of same rate of speed
of the first mover, and possesses greater force as it approaches the extreme of
its movement. When applying the extreme pressure, the connecting rod
assumes a position somewhat closely approaching the direct line of the
standards and line of pressure, and the axis of the ratchet wheel being
as much on the one side of the standard as the crank pin is on the other,
an equal strain is thus thrown on the uprights at the time. After the
bale is compressed and secured, the small hydraulic ram supporting the
table below is lowered a little, by allowing the escape of the water; the ram
and table then descends, the travel being only a few inches; it at same
time acts by a rod or other connection to throw out the palls from the ratchet
teeth by this means the weighted wheel is relieved, which then revolves in
the backward direction by its own gravity, at same time elevating the pressing
ram in readiness for another pressing operation. The bydraulic ram and table
are again raised, by pumping or otherwise forcing water into the hydraulic
cylinder, and the palls thrown into gear; the operation may. then be repeated."
The pressure chamber for receiving the goods and the length of stroke are
arranged according to the kind of goods to be pressed, but the proportions
must be such, that the ratchet or weighted segment wheels must, however,
always perform less than half a revolution, and usually not more than about
one-third.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent front and side elevations of a packing press arranged
and constructed according to my Invention; while Fig. 3 represents a plan of the
same. A is the bed or base of the press, in which the cylinder or chamber to
receive the ram of the bydraulic lift, to be herein-after described, is formed; on
this plate A the side frames or standards B, B, are erected, being further secured
by strong tie bolts C, C, firmly fixed by suitable cottars, which hold the top and
base of the press firmly together, and are of sufficient strength to resist the
whole strain put on the press when pressing bales of cotton or other goods. Two
frames D, 1), are also secured by the bolts C, C, forming guides for the cross
head d at the upper end of the connecting rod E. The standards or cheek
plates B form the sides of the chamber in which the cotton is compressed,
suitable back and front plates a, a, being fixed to B, B, to form a chamber,
wherein to recieve and contain the cotton while being submitted to the
pressure. This chamber being in most respects similar to such chambers in
cotton presses generally, no particular description thereof will be necessary.
F is the plunger or piston descending to compress the cotton, working in
suitable guides between the standards B, B, and in the cotton box; it is con-
nected by two rods b, b, to the Cross head d to which the connecting rod is
attached; this cross head d moves in the guide slots of frames D, and rises
and falls by the motion of the connecting rod E. The lower end of connecting
rod E is recieved between two parts of the weighted segment G, to which it is
jointed by the crank pin e. This segment is the weighted partial wheel or
segment before mentioned, which may be either in one or two parts; in the
Drawing it is shown as of two parts, mounted on axis f, and bolted together
at the weighted side G', so as in appearance to form a solid piece; this wheel
or segment G is or are furnished with two series of ratchet teeth, as seen in
Fig. 2, and into which palls g, g, take. These palls g, g, are mounted on
eccentric rings fitted to eccentrics formed on the shaft h, the palls being held
up to the teeth by suitable springs, as well understood. The axes f and h are
mounted in bearings of the frames H, H, bolted to the standards B, B, or
they may be cast of a piece therewith. The frames E., H, are further
supported by pillars I, I, from the foundation. K is a spur wheel firmly
keyed on the shaft h, and gearing into a pinion L mounted on a shaft i, which
has motion communicated to it by strap-and-strap riggers 1, 1, or by other
suitable means. M is the table forming the bottom of the chamber in which
the cotton is to be pressed; this is free to rise and fall to a certain extent, and

page_text: is guided between the standards B, B; this table is mounted on the short ram
m of an hydraulic press, received in its chamber or cylinder in the base A, and
is fitted with suitable valves and pump exactly as in ordinary hydraulic presses.
When cotton is to be pressed, the table is to be pumped up to the proper
level, and is sustained there on the water while the pressing is going on. The
cotton to be pressed having been introduced at the door n, this is raised,
closed, and fixed; the strap is then thrown from the loose to the fast pulley,
"the machine being at the time in the position shown; motion is now com-
municated to the segment G by the palls g, whose eccentrics are at positions
diametrically opposite to each other on their shaft h, so that one of them takes
hold and advances the segment G a tooth while the other is receding to take
hold of the next tooth in succession. This motion advances the segment step
by step, bringing the connecting rod E gradually to the position shown red,
and ultimately to that position represented dotted, where the extreme pressure
required should terminate; this motion of the connecting rod brings down the
plunger F, which compresses the cotton in the box or chamber between it and
the table M. At this time a lever actuated by a tappet on the wheel G
throws the strap from the fast to the loose pulley, as well understood in self-
acting machines, and so suspends the motion of the machine. The bale is
then bound in the ordinary manner, and after being properly secured, the
attendants open a passage by stop cock or otherwise, to allow the water to
run from the bydraulic cylinder back to the pump cistern; the table M then
descends, which frees the bale from pressure, when the door or trap is opened,
and it is removed. During the descent of the table the ratchets are released,
the segment G resumes its original position by reason of the gravitation of the
weight G', at same time elevating the plunger F; the table M is again pumped
up to its raised position; the machine is then ready to repeat the operation.
The ratchets are detached by withdrawing the palls g, by means of a bent
lever p mounted on a fulcrum at q. The one end of this lever p is in contact
with the palls g, while the other end is connected by a rod r to a lever s,
mounted on a fulcrum at t; u is a small tappet on table M, which strikes
levers during the descent of the table, and carries it downwards a certain
distance, thereby knocking the palls 9 out of gear with the ratchet G; the
segment G, G', then swings back to position. When tappet u releases levers,
the springs of the palls throw them again into gear with the ratchet teeth, in
readiness for a succeeding operation. The springs of the palls 9 may bo
sufficient in themselves to lift the lever apparatus p, s, or this may be again
raised to position by other springs, or by equivalents. It will be observed,

page_text: that the lever s has a short jointed piece at the tappet end, which permits of
it folding upwards as the tappet u passes it during the ascent of the table, but
which is rigid when acted on during the descent.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the arrangement and combination of parts herein-before described,
constituting a press for packing cotton and other goods.
Secondly, the application of the hydraulic lift and table to presses for packing
cotton and other goods, as and for the purposes herein-before described; also
the method of working the palls.
Thirdly, the application of the weighted segment or wheel, for the purpose
of bringing the machine back to position, and the application thereto of the
force of the palls in the upward or thrusting direction, and the transmission of
power through the ratchet segments, connecting rod, and plunger rods, or their
equivalents to the plunger, as herein-before described and shown in the
Drawing hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Stewart, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
DAVID STEWART. (L.B.)