Improvements in or relating to Hydraulic Compresses.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 9th July, 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug,, 190
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Hydraulic Compresses.
I, ALBERT LIVINGSTON BLACKMAN, of the Hotel Metropole, Northumberland Avenue,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
This invention relates directly to and to the manner of operating hydraulic com-
presses especially applicable to the compression of bales of cotton, wool, jute, flax, hemp
and other materials. The invention consists principally in combining an economical
and powerful press with a railway car or steam-bont of barge so that it may be transported
from station to station along a line of railway or along a rivor or canal to wherever
it may be desirable to use the said press and in the employment of compressed air
and water, oil or other liquid under pressure as the motive agent for operating the
compress, this arrangement being such that the action of the platen will be brisk
as distinct from sluggish as is the case with ordinary hydraulic apparatus and
moreover by the utilisation of the elasticity of the air there will practically be no
shocks imparted to the presses which will in consequence render the working
smoother and minimise the risk of damage.
In carrying this invention into practice I provide a flat car or wagon mounted
on preferably two eight wheeled bogies. This car is advantageously of riverted
wrought iron construction and has a platform which may be of checkered iron or of
other material but preferably wood suitably secured to the framing of the said car.
At or about its central part an opening is formed through the platform to accommodate
the hydraulic press which is supported by and secured to the platform by suitable
brackets or standards. These brackets or standards at their lower ends are strongly
bolted to the platform and at their upper ends are bolted to strong flanges on the
ends of the upper or stationary platen block and those standards support the same;
over the upper platen hangs the upper end of an oblong stirrup. The lower end
of this stirrup receives the stationary piston; the stirrup here is preferably semi-
circular to allow for the self adjustment of the lower or movable platen to the
inequalities of the bales to be compressed as hereinafter described. The movable
platen is formed in one piece with the cylinder which consequently is a part of
the same and moves with it, the piston or ram in this preferred arrangement being
stationary and resting upon and supported by the lower end of the stirrup. The
movable platen. is guided in its vertical motion by yokes or flanges which slido
along the vertical sides of the stirrup but which are formed with clearance sufficient
to allow for the angular adjustment of the said platen. The piston is preferably
formed in one casting with a curved and channelled yoke which rests on and can
oscillate in the lower or semi-circular end of the stirrup. The casting of which
the piston and yoke preferably form parts is constructed with a central tubular
column and gussets for strengthening the structure. The upper or working face
of the piston is formed concave so that all the water or other liquid-motive-agent
may be drained from the cylinder the opposing working face or head of which
being preferably formed correspondingly convex so as to minimise the space to be
charged with the motive agent. In conjunction with the compress there is provided
an accumulator, or pressure reservoir, herein termed the lower pressure accumulator
and another accumulator or pressure reservoir herein termed the higher pressure
accumulator and each of which accumulators is of connected tubular construction. and
supported beneath the platform and within the body of the car and becomes part
thereof. A pump is provided for forcing water oil or other liquid into the lower
pressure accumulator the said pump. being herein. termed the lower pressure pump
and there is also provided another pump hra termed the higher pressure pumpi

page_text: as its office is to force water, oil or other liquid into the higher pressure accumulator.
These pumps draw the liquid which they are to displace respectively from one or
more tanks and the said pumps may be operated by steain supplied through a
snitable pipe from a boiler specially provided for the purpose or preferably from
the boiler of the locomotive by which the apparatus is transported from place to
place or from any other suitable source; or, instead of by steam, they may be
operated by any other suitable motive agent.
The before mentioned steam or other motive-agent supply pipe is provided with
suitable couplings and valves to enable the connection with the steam generator to
be made at either end of the car the valve at the cud not so connected' being
shut off. A branched pipe is provided for conducting the exhaust liquid from the
cylinder of the press back to the tanks such exhaust being controllable by a suitable
valve. There are also provided a pipe for conducting fluid under the lower pressure
from the lower pressure accumulator to the press cylinder, another pipe for similarly
conducting the higher pressure fluid from the higher pressure accumulator to the said
cylinder, and valves by which admission to the cylinder of the lower and higher pressure
liquid may be controlled.
Upon the platform of the car is preferably fitted a tolescoping crane adapted to
be raised and lowered hydraulically and provided with one or more jibs on which
are mounted trollies carrying tackle for lifting and handling the bales or other
goods to be compressed. When say two jibs are employed, by one of the jibs an
uncompressed bale may be swung into the press at the same time a compressed
bale may be swung out from the press, by the other.
The admission and exhaust valves of the compress are preferably connected by
links rods, levers and the like to hand levers by which they may all be operated from
the same spot.
The before described. accumulator or pressure reservoirs instead of being placed on
the same car as carries the compress may be carried on a separate car.
The before described compressing apparatus instead of being mounted on movable
car or steam-boat or barge may be employed in a stationary plant the operation
of which would be practically the same as the railway compress and the steam for
operating the pumps would be supplied by stationary boilers.
In such a plant the compress is located on suitable fixed foundation and in detail
is similar to that. already described the relative location of the various parts could
however be modified to suit requirements and one or two tanks may be used but
two tanks are preferable in regulating the supply of fluid to the pumps respectively.
In this arrangement the accumulators may be conveniently placed above the Hoor so
as to be accessible.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows;-
To initially charge the accumulators air is forced into the accumulator tubes' under
pressure by an air-pump until suitable degrees of pressure in the accumulators are
attained when the working of the air pump is stopped. At this juncture the first
mentioned pumps are turned on so as to force water, oil or other suitable liquid
into the accumulators which thus become charged with air and liquid under great
pressure, the air by its elasticity being further compressed by the forcing of the water into
the accumulator by the pumps. These pumps may be kept continously at work whether
the press be in operation or not until the pressure in the accumulators is as great
as may be desired at which point they automatically "cut off" and the pumps stop.
Whenever the pressure falls below the pressure desired, the pumps automatically
commence to work again and continue to augment and restore the power stored in
the accumulators. When it is desired to compress say a bale, the pressure reservoirs
being already charged as last described the movable platen being then in a lowered
position, the uncompressed bale by means of the crane or otherwise is placed upon
the said platen and the exhaust valve is closed and the low pressure valve opened.
The low pressure water or other motive agent will then by the action of and expansion
of the condensed or compressed air be forced under the head of the cylinder and move
the platen upwards and compress the bale between the two platens to about of the

page_text: stroke of the cylinder or the greater part thereof. The lower pressure valve is then
shut off and the higher pressure valve turned on so that the higher pressure water
flows from the high pressure reservoirs into the cylinder and forces up the platen still
further and thus compresses the bale to the maximum extent. The bale is then hooped
or bound in any of the usual ways and the higher pressure valve turned off and the
exhaust valve opened, the platen will then descend by its own weight and that of the
bale and the liquid from within the cylinder will be forced through the before mentioned
tubular passage and the exhaust pipe back into the tanks.
Instead of a pump being provided specially for forcing air into the accumulators
the air may be forced in by the other pumps if suitable connections and valves are
applied.
In place of two accumulators or pressure reservoirs being applied to each compress
so as to provide for the application of two different degrees of pressure to the bale
only one may be provided for compressing the bale by one degree of pressure.
It will be apparent that the before described apparatus instead of being mounted on
a railway car inay be mounted on a steami-boat, barge or the like.
Dated this 17th day of September 1889
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Hydraulic Compresses.
I, ALBERT LIVINGSTON BLACKMAN, of the Hotel Metropole, Northumberland
Avenue, in the County of Middlesex, 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 directly to, and to the manner of operating, hydraulic
compresses especially applicable to the compression of bales of cotton, wool, jute, flax.
hemp and other materials. The invention consists principally in combining an
economical and powerful press with a railway car or steam-boat or barge so that it
may be transported from station to station along a line of railway or along a river or
canal to wherever it may be desirable to use the said press and in the employment of
compressed air and water, oil or other I quid under pressure as the motive agent for
operating the compress, this arrangement being such that the action of the platen
will be brisk as distinct from sluggish as is the case with ordinary hydraulic apparatus
and moreover by the utilization of the elasticity of the air there will practically be
no shocks imparted to the presses which will in consequence render the working
smoother and minimise the risk of damage.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a view parily in elevation and partly in vertical section of a bale
compress and appurtenances mounted on a railway car or wagon for convenience of
transport from place to place;
Figure 2 is a horizontal plan of the accumulators or pressure reservoirs situated in
the body of the car,
Figure 3 is an elevation, und
Figure 4a plan of a fixed or stationary compress.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In Figures 1 and 2 A is a flat car or wagon mounted on preferably two eight
wheelal bogies A. This car A is advantageously of rivettel wrought iron
construction and has a platform A which may be of checkered iron or of other
material but preferably wood suitably secured to the framing of the said ear. At or
about its central part an opening is formed through the platform A to accommodate
the hydraulic press which supported by and secured to the platform. Aby the
brackets or standards b. These brackets or standards at their lower ends are strongly

page_text: bolted to the platform and at their upper ends are bolted to strong flanges on the
ends of the upper or stationary platen block and these standards support the
same over the upper platen hangs the upper end of the oblong stirrup b². The
lower end of this stirrup receives the stationary piston; the stirrup here is preferably
semi-circular to allow for the self adjustment of the lower or movable platen to the
inequalities of the bales to be compressed as hereinafter described. The movable
platen is formed in one piece with the cylinder which consequently is a part of
the same and moves with it, the piston or ram in this preferred arrangement being
stationary and resting upon and supported by the lower end of the stirrup. The
platen is guided in its vertical motion by the yokes or flanges which slide along.
the vertical sides of the stirrup, but which are formed with clearance sufficient to
allow for the angular adjustment of the platen 63. The piston is preferably formed
in one casting with a curved and channelled yoke which rests on and can
oscillate in the lower or semi-circular end of the stirrup 6. The casting, of which
the piston and yoke 67 preferably form parts is constructed with a central tubular
column and gussets for strengthening the structure. The upper or working
face of the piston is former concave so that all the water or other liquid motive
agent may be drained from the cylinder the opposing working face or head of which
being preferably formed correspondingly convex so as to minimise the space to be
charged with the motive-agent. C is an accumulator, or pressure reservoir, herein
termed the lower pressure accumulator and Cis another accumulator, or pressure
reservoir, herein termed the higher pressure accumulator and each of which as shown.
more clearly in the plan view Figure 2 of connected tubular construction and
supported beneath the platform and within the body of the car and becomes part
thereof. D is a pump for forcing water oil or other liquid into the accumulator C
and herein termed the lower pressure pump and D is a force pump herein termed the
higher pressure pump as its office is to force water, oil or other liquid into the higher
pressure accumulator C. These pumps D and D' draw the liquid which they are to
displace, respectively from the tanks d and d' and the said pumps may be operated by
steam supplied through the pipe d from a boiler specially provided for the purpose.or
preferably from the boiler of the locomotive by which the apparatus is transported
from place to place or from any other suitable source; or, instead of by steam, they
may be operated by any other suitable motive agent.
The pipe is provided with suitable couplings and valves to enable the
connection with the steam generator to be made at either end of the car the valve at
the end not so connected being cut off.. is a branched pipe for conducting the
exhaust liquid from the cylinder of press B to the tanks d and d', d³ Fig. 2 being a
valve by which such exhaust may be controlled. Instead of the two tanks dd only
one may be employed. is a pipe for conducting fluid under the lower pressure
from the accumulator C to the cylinder & and c is a pipe for similarly conducting the
higher pressure fluid from the accumulator C to the said cylinder. and are
valves by which adinission to the cylinder of the lower and higher pressure liquid
may he controlled.
The pipes ce are connected to the passage in any suitable and convenient
manner.
E is a telescoping erane adapted to be raised and lowered hydraulically and on the
jise of which are mounted trollies e' carrying tackle for lifting and handling the
hales. By one of the jibs of this crane an uncompressed bale may be swung into
the press at the same time a compressed bale may be swung out from the press,
by the other.
The valves c c and d are preferably connected by links, rods, levers and the like
to hand levers by which they may all be operated from the same spot.
The before described, accumulator or pressure reservoirs instead of being placed on
the same car as carries the compress may be carried on a separate car.
Figures 3 and 4 representa fixed or stationary compress which is practically the
same in operation as the railway compress. The steam for operating the pumps is

page_text: supplied by stationary boilers, but the boilers and connecting pipes are not shown in
the drawing herewith.
This compress is located on suitable fixed foundation and in detail is similar to that
already described the only points of difference being that the relative location of the
various parts is modified and that one of the tanks dd is omitted but two tanks
may be used and is preferable in regulating the supply of fluid to the pumps
respectively:
In this arrangement the accumulators C and C are conveniently placed above the
floor X Fig. 3 so as to be accessible. In other essential particulars as is denoted by
the similarity of the reference letters this apparatus is described by the same
explanation as treats of Figures 1 and 2, and the manner of operating the apparatus
shown in Figures 1 to 4 is as follows:-
---
First. To initially charge the accumulators C and C air is forced into the
accumulator tubes under pressure by an air-pninp (not shown in the drawings) until
suitable degrees of pressure in the accumulators are attained when the working of the
air pump is stopped. At this juncture the pumps D and D are turned on so as to
force water, oil, or other suitable liquid into the accumulators which thus become
charged with air and liquid under great pressure, the air by its elasticity being further
compressed by the forcing of the water into the accumulator by the pumps. These
pumps may be kept continuously at work whether the press be in operation or not
until the pressure in the accumulators is as great as may be desired at which point
C
they automatically cut off" and the pumps stop. Whenever the pressure falls
below the pressure desired, the pumps automatically commence to work again and
continue to augment and restore the power stored in the accumulators. When it is
desired to compress a bale the pressure reservoirs are charged as last described the
platen & being then in a lowered position, the uncompressed bale by means of a crane E
or otherwise is placed upon the said platen 63 and the exhaust valve d³ is closed and
the low pressure valve opened. The lower pressure water or other motive agent
will then by the action of and expansion of the condensed or compressed air be
forced under the head of the cylinder and move the platen upwards and
compress the bale between the platens 61 and 63 to about % of the stroke of the
cylinder or the greater part thereof. The valve is then shut off and the valve cª
turned on so that the higher pressure water flows from the high pressure reservoirs C'
into the cylinder and forces up the platen 63 still further and thus compresses tlie
bale to the maximum extent: The bale is then hooped or bound in any of the usual
ways, and the valve e³ turned off and the exhaust valve opened, the platen will
then descend by its own weight and that of the bale and the liquid from within the
cylinder will be forced through the passage and exhaust pipe ³ back into the
tanks d and d².
Instead of a pump being provided specially for forcing air into the accumulators
the air may be forced in by the pumps D or D' if suitable connections and valves are
applied.
In place of two accumulators or pressure reservoirs being applied to each compress
so as to provide for the application of two different degrees of pressure to the bale
only one may be provided for compressing the bale by one degree of pressure.
If desired the transportable compress may be mounted on a steain-boat barge or
the like.
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 1.
claim is :-
1. The operation of a compress for pressing bales of cotton, wool or other materials
or products by compressed air and liquid under pressure substantially as herein set
forth.
2. The operation of a hydraulic compress by means of compressed air and water or
other liquid stored in accumulators or pressure reservoirs and operating the compress

page_text: substantially as herein described for the purpose of compressing bales of cotton, wool
and other material as herein shown.
3. The combination with a compress of an accumulator or pressure reservoirs in
connection with a pump or pumps for forcing air and water or other liquid into said
accumulators or pressure reservoirs for compressing bales of cotton wool or other
materials substantially as herein set forth..
4. In a hydraulic compress.the combination with a stirrup such as b² of a yoke and
piston such as 76 over which is adapted to work a cylinder such as 6 the head of
which forms the lower platen substantially as herein set forth.
5. The combination with a compress of pressure reservoirs or accumulators filled
with liquid and compressed air for the purpose of compressing bales of cotton, wool and
other materials substantially as herein described.
6. The combination with a railway-ear of a compress, operated by compressed air
and liquid retained under pressure, in and said motor liquid passing directly from an
accumulator or pressure reservoirs into the cylinder of the compress for the purpose
of compressing bales of cotton, wool and other materials substantially as herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. The combination with a steam-boat or barge of a hydraulic compress operated by
compressed air and liquid retained under pressure in and said motor liquid passing
directly from an accumulator or pressure reservoirs into the cylinder of the compress
through suitable pipe connections substantially as herein described.
8. The combination with a railway car of a telescoping crane such as E, a compress
operated by compressed air and motor liquid retained under pressure in and passing
directly from an accumulator or pressure reservoirs through suitable connecting pipes
into the cylinder of the compress substantially as herein described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings."
9. The combination with a steam boat or barge of a telescoping crane such as E of
a compress operated by compressed air and liquid retained under pressure in and
passing directly from an accumulator or pressure reservoirs through suitable connec-
tions into the cylinder of the compress substantially as herein described.
10. The combination with a hydraulic compross and an accumulator or pressure.
reservoirs for storing compressed air and liquid for operating the said compress, of a
pump or pumps for charging the accumulators or pressure reservoirs substantially as
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
11. The combination with a railway car of a hydraulic compress and an accumulator
or pressure reservoirs for storing compressed air and liquid for operating the said
compress of a pump or pumps mounted on the same car for charging the accumulator
or pressure reservoirs the said pumps operated by steam from the locomotive or other
steam boiler substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings,
12. The combination with a steam boat or large of a hydraulic compress and an
accumulator or pressure reservoirs for storing compressed sir and liquid for operating
the platen of said compress of a pump or pumps for charging the accumulator or
pressure reservoirs substantially as herein described.
13. The combination with a hydraulic compress of two or more accumulators or sets.
of pressure reservoirs one for containing compressed air and liquid at a low pressure
and the other for containing compressed air and liquid at a higher pressure substan-
tially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
14. The combination with a compress of an accumulator or set of pressure reservoirs
for containing compressed air and liquid at one pressure of another accumulator or set
of pressure reservoirs for containing compressed air and liquid at a different pressure
substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
15. The combination with a hydraulic compress of two or more accumulators or
sets of pressure reservoirs for containing compressed air and liquid at different
pressures for operating the said compress under different pressure substantially as
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 16. The combination with a railway car of a hydraulic compress of two or more
accumulators or sets of pressure reservoirs for working the compress by compressed
air and liquid under different degrees of pressure substantially as herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
17. The combination with a steam boat or barge carrying a hydraulic compress of
two or more accumulators or sets of pressure reservoirs for working the compress by
compressed air and liquid under different degrees of pressure for compressing bales
of cotton, wool or other materials substantially as herein described.
18. The combination with a compress and two or more accumulators for working
the compress by compressed air and liquid under different degrees of pressure of
pumps for charging the said accumulators with air and liquid substantially as herein
described.
of
19. The combination with a railway car and a compress and two accumulators for
working the compress by compressed air and liquid under different degrees of pressure
pumps for charging the said accumulators mounted on the same car said pumps
being operated by steain from the locomotive or other steam boilers substantially as
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
20. The combination with a steam boat or harge carrying a compress and two
accumulators or pressure reservoirs for working the compress by compressed air and
liquid under different degrees of pressure of pumps for charging the said accumulators
or pressure reservoirs substantially as herein described.
21. The combination of a railway car of a compress for compressing bales of
cotton or wool or other materials substantially as set forth.
22. The combination with a steam boat or barge of a compress for compressing
bales of cotton or other materials substantially as shown and described.
23. The combination of pressure reservoirs consisting of pipes, tubes or other
suitable vessels containing compressed air and water, oil or other motor liquid with a
compress for compressing bales of cotton, wool or other materials substantially as set
forth.
24. The combination of pressure reservoirs or accumulators filled with compressed
air and water or other liquid with a stationary hydraulic compress for the purposes of
compressing bales of cotton, wool or other materials substantially as shown and
described.
25. The combination with a railway car of a hydraulic compress of an accumulator
or pressure reservoirs filled with compressed air and water or oilier motor liquid for
operating the compress, of pumps to charge the said reservoirs, of discharge tanks
connecting pipes.
26. The combination with a railway car of an accumulator or pressure reservoirs or
pipes for storing compressed air and motor fluid for operating a compress substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
27. In a compress for baling cotton or other material the combination with a
stirrup such as and piston such as of an inverted cylinder such as the head
of which form the movable platen substantially as herein described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
23. In a compress for baling cotton or other material the combination with a
stirrup such as of a piston such as formed in one or otherwise provided with a
yoke such as substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
'
29. The combination with a compress for baling cotton or other material of one
accumulator for containing compressed air and motor liquid for operating the said
compress substantially as herein described.
30. The complete portable compress for haling cotton wool or other materials
consisting essentially of a car such as A compress such as B accumulators or pressure
reservoirs such as for containing compressed air and motor liquid at different
pressures, pumps D D' and tanks d d substantially as herein desc.ibed and illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 31. The complete stationary compress for baling cotton, wool or other materials
consisting essentially of a compress such as B accumulators, or pressure reservoirs
such as for the storage of compressed air and motor liquid at different pressurds,
pumps DD, and tank d substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figures 3.
and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of Inle 1890.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOUILT,
Agents for the Applicant.