A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF APPLYING COUNTERPRESSURE TO THE LEVERS OF ENGINES OR MACHINERY
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
MODE OR MEANS OF APPLYING COUNTERPRESSURE TO THE LEVERS OF ENGINES
OR MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Victor Alder, of Vienna,
in the Empire of Austria, Manufacturing Chemist.
Sealed the 6th March 1877, and dated the 29th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th September 1876.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF APPLYING COUNTER-
PRESSURE TO THE LEVERS OF ENGINES OR MACHINERY." A communication from
abroad by Victor Alder, of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, Manufacturing
Chemist.
This Invention has for its object preventing the injurious concussions incident to
machines working with levers, and consists in the employment of compressed air or
other gases in substitution for the weights at present used in such machines,
whereby an elastic pressure is produced capable of being regulated as required, and
thus diminishing the wear and rendering the action of such machine much quicker
and more regular.
The apparatus employed for the purpose consists of an air reservoir connected by
means of a suitable channel with a number of cylinders and pistons, the rods of the
pistons being connected to the levers of the machine instead of the weights here-
tofore employed. The air reservoir is about half filled with water or other liquid
through a suitable opening at the upper part fitted with a funnel and stop-cock, a
glass gauge tube being provided in the side of the reservoir for the purpose of indi-
cating the level of the water. The reservoir is also fitted with valves for the purpose
of admitting air, and for preventing the pressure of the air contained in the reservoir
from falling below that of the external atmosphere.
The levers to which counterweights have heretofore been attached in machines of
this class are connected to the piston herein-before referred to, the number of such
pistons corresponding to the number of levers employed in the machine.
The liquid introduced into the reservoir prevents the escape of air past the pistons,
which are packed with leather, india rubber, or other suitable material,
[Price 6d1

page_text: The safety or pressure valve is provided for the purpose of preventing any
possible excessive pressure in the air reservoir, whilst the inlet valve, which is pro-
vided with a balanced lever in order to render it as sensitive as possible, serves to
equalize the pressure between the air contained in the reservoir and the external
atmosphere.
When the machine is in action the ends of the levers depress the pistons in the
cylinders, whereby the water or other liquid contained therein and in the reservoir
is caused to ascend in the latter and compress the air contained therein above the
liquid. The expansion of the air thus compressed produces a gradually increasing
resistance to the motion of the pistons, which resistance or counterpressure is trans-
mitted to the levers of the machine to which they are connected.
The degree of pressure exerted on the pistons is indicated by a manometer
suitably connected with the apparatus, and the pressure may be regulated by the
quantity of liquid introduced into the reservoir.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
-March-1877:
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF APPLYING COUNTER-
PRESSURE TO THE LEVERS OF ENGINES OR MACHINERY." A communication from
abroad by Victor Alder, of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, Manufacturing
Chemist.
The said Invention relates to apparatus for applying pressure through the inter-
vention of levers by the employinent in combination of a moving force and an
opposing or counterpressure, the application of the moving force having the effect of
overcoming the opposing pressure, whereby a force is stored up to be given out
again in applying pressure when the moving force is suspended. Heretofore such
counterpressure has been obtained by means of weights, the use of which is attended
with the inconvenience that by their action the apparatus is subjected to injurious
shocks or concussions, increasing the wear and tear of the parts.
According to the said Invention, this inconvenience is obviated by the employ-
ment, in substituting for weights used as the medium or agent for the production of
counterpressure, of compressed air or other gases, whereby a powerful and elastic
pressure is imparted which is capable of being regulated as required, and increased
uniformity and rapidity in the operation of the apparatus are obtained.
In order that the said Invention may be perfectly understood, I shall proceed to
describe the principles upon which lever presses of the description herein-before
referred to are constructed, and the application to such apparatus of the improve-
ments which form the subject of the said Invention, and for that purpose shall refer
to the several Figures of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of
reference on which indicate similar parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 are diagrams illustrating the principles and action of one arrange-
ment of lever press, the two Figures representing respectively different positions of
the parts.
a, b, is a lever supported on the fixed base g, c, by means of a bar b, f, hinged to
the said lever, which is in connection in a similar manner by means of a hinge at
the point d with a load W, representing the resistance to be overcome.
The parts
are represented in Figure 1 in their normal position or position of rest. If now the
ever a, b, be forced up by the power P acting in the direction of the arrow to a
(Figure 2), W will also be moved upwards, and a corresponding pressure will be
exerted through the connecting piece b, f, upon the base g, e.
The weight of the load W may be greatly reduced by the employment of a corre-

page_text: sponding system of levers acting in a similar manner, as shewn in Figure 3. In this
arrangement the lever r, s, turning on the point 2, and the lever t, w, jointed at w,
and having its fulcrum at w¹ are connected together by the bar s, t.
It will readily be perceived that in order to exert the same pressure on the
point (as is imparted by W in Figure 2) a correspondingly reduced weight W will
h
be sufficient, the said weight being diminished in proportion to the multiplying
power of the levers.
In all these arrangements the whole force of the lever a, b, is applied instan-
taneously on the base g, e, at the point f. According to the said Invention this force
is applied gradually in lieu of instantaneously, and the result is accomplished in a
manner which will be understood by reference to the diagrams, Figures 4 and 5.
D is a piston which is fitted so as to work air-tight in a cylinder C containing air
or gas, and is connected by a system of rods E with the point w in lieu of a weight,
W being suspended therefrom, as in Figure 3. Now when the point a, Figure 4, is
moved upwards by the power P, the point w, and with the same the piston D to
which it is connected, will consequently move in the opposite direction, and effect a
corresponding compression of the air or gas in the cylinder C, which will be con-
verted into a gradually increasing pressure exerted at the point f on the base g, e.
In the diagram, Figure 5, a, a, and b, c, form a toggle joint, being jointed together
at x, at which point the power P is applied in the direction of the arrow. It will
be evident that by means of this or any other suitable arrangement of levers placed
in connection with a piston and cylinder in the manner herein-before described for
the compression of air or gases, a powerful and gradually increasing pressure will
be exerted upon the base selected to be given out again in exercising pressure upon
the object or material under operation.
Upon the principles herein-before enunciated presses may be constructed for
exerting a gradual elastic and suitably powerful pressure to be applied to various
useful purposes, among which may be mentioned the pressing of the explosive
igniting material employed in percussion caps, and the pressing of other small
articles of metal or other materials, such, for example, as buttons, medallions, and
the like, where a large, choap, and rapid production is required.
Figure 6 represents a sectional side elevation of so much of a compressing appa-
ratus as is sufficient to illustrate the said Invention, and Figure 7 is an end elevation
of the same.
The apparatus consists of an air reservoir A in communication by means of a
channel B with a number of cylinders O, having fitted therein pistons D, the rods E
of which are connected to the levers of the machine (not shewn in these Figures) in
lieu of the weights heretofore employed. The air reservoir is about half filled with
water or other liquid through an opening F at the top, fitted with a funnel G and
stop-cock H, a glass gayge I being provided in the side of the reservoir for the
purpose of indicating the level of the water.
The liquid introduced into the reservoir prevents the escape of air past the pistons,
which are packed with leather, india-rubber, or other suitable material.
The reservoir is fitted with a safety valve K as a precaution against any excess
of pressure in its interior, and a valve L having a balanced lever M in order to
render it as sensitive as possible is also provided for the purpose of preventing the
pressure of the air contained in the reservoir from falling below that of the external
atmosphere.
The apparatus operates in the following manner: -The levers to which weights
have been heretofore been attached in machines of the class are connected to the rods E
of the pistons D, the number of the pistons corresponding to the number of levers
employed in the machine, and when the apparatus is in action the ends of the levers
depress the pistons D in the cylinders C, whereby the water or other liquid con-
tained therein and in the reservoir is caused to ascend the latter and compress the
air contained therein above the liquid, the expansive action of the air thus com-
pressed producing a gradually increasing resistance to the motion of the pistons,

page_text: which resistance or counterpressure is transmitted to the levers of the apparatus or
machine to which the pistons are connected.
The degree of pressure exerted on the pistons is indicated by a manometer
suitably connected with the apparatus, and the pressure may be regulated by the
quantity of liquid introduced into the reservoir.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the employment in apparatus of the description herein set forth of
compressed air or other compressed gases in substitution for weights as the medium
or agent for the production of counterpressure, substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.&.)