IMPROVEMENTS IN STAMPS, HAMMERS, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH ACTUATED BY STEAM. COMPRESSED AIR, OR OTHER AERIFORM FLUID, THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS PURPOSES WHERE PERCUSSIVE FORCE IS EMPLOYED
Year: 1866

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to John Garrett Tongue, of the Firm of Tongue and
Birkbeck, Patent Agents and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STAMPS, HAMMERS, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
ACTUATED BY STEAM. COMPRESSED AIR, OR OTHER AERIFORM FLUID, THE SAID
IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS PURPOSES WHERE PERCUSSIVE
FORCE IS EMPLOYED."-A communication from abroad by Christopher
Retallick James and Nathan Woodhull Condict, junior, both of Jersey
City, in the County of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, United States
of America.
Sealed the 2nd April 1867, and dated the 17th October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garrett Tongue at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th October 1866.
I, JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent
Agents and Eugineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAMPS, HAMMERS, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
ACTUATED BY STEAK, COMPRESSED AIR, OR OTHER ARRIFORM FLUID, THE SAID IMPROVE-
MENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS PURPOSES WHERE PERCUSSIVE FORCE IS
EMPLOYED," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to the attachment of the stamp or hammer to a
piston working in a cylinder, the lower end of which is in constant com-

page_text: munication with a reservoir of steam,compressed air, or the two combined.or
other aeriform fluid or fluids of a sufficient pressure to raise the pistou with its
stampor hammer, and the upper end of which cylinder communicates through
a suitably operated valve with a steam boiler in which there is a pressure of
steam sufficiently in excess of that of the steam or fluid in the reservoir to act
on the upper surface of the piston carrying the stamp or hammer with a force
sufficient to produce as heavy ablow as may be desired, such valve afterwards
opening to the exhaust.
Secondly, the Invention relates to a combination of two stamps or hammers
so worked bypistons moving in separate cylinderstogether witha valve having
passages so operated as to bring each cylinder alternatelyinto communication
with the boiler, thus producing the alternate action of the pistons and their
attached stamps or haminers. Where only one stamp or hammer is used
then one of these cylinders may be smaller than the other, and the function of
its piston confined to operate the valve.
Thirdly, the Invention relates to meaus of operating the valve to alternate
the action of the two pistons by the action of each piston alternately as it
completes its ascending stroke, and whereby the blow of the stamp or hammer
of the other or descending piston is made or kept full on the work during and
after impactunder the same pressure of steam on the piston, irrespective of any
variation in the stroke consequent upon change in the bulk or height of the
work being struck.
Fourthly, the Invention relates to such a construction of the pistous and
arrangement of the valve steam passages thereto as that the incoming steam
from the boiler will exerta tendency to partially turn the pistons for the purpose
of turning the stamps.
Having thus stated the nature of these improvements, the following.
description of a stamping mill and apparatus suitable for pulverizing ores or
other materials constructed and arranged in accordance with the Invention
will enable the same to be more clearly understood.
Columns combined with a suitable head and base constitute the frame of
the mill. The stamps are situated within said frame, the upper portion of
which carries the stamp operating cylinders, while its bottom is provided with
ordinary or any suitable troughs or mortars, into which the ore to be pulverized
is placed. The stamps are secured to the lower ends of vertical piston rods
which pass through stuffing boxes in the bottoms of the cylinders, said rods
being connected with or carrying pistons which work in said cylinders. The
piston rods are extended and pass upwards through the cylinders so as to form
stems or rods which alternately serve to operate the valve. On these stems

page_text: or rods are fitted sleeves or tubular sockets provided with set screws at the
top, and connected by rods to across bar attached to the stem or spindle of the
valve. This valve is by preference of cylindrical orconical form, but any other
suitable kind of valve may be employed, and its action differently controlled to
alternate its admitting steam to and exhausting it from each cylinder
alternately. The valve chamber and its steam, passage is in communication
with the hollow portion of the valve spindle, connected by any suitable joint so
as to admit of its working with the inlet pipe which conveys steam from a
boiler,the inlet pipe being provided with a starting cock.. The exhaust pipe
communicates with the exhaust space of the valve chamber, suitable passages
establishing the connection alternately of the two cylinders at their top, first
with the, steam and afterwards with the exhaust spaces or passages of the
valve. These passages are by preference formed so that in admitting steam
it will impinge upon the pistons at a tangent, the pistons being ribbed on
their upper surfaces, whereby each time steam is admitted it will exert a
tendency to slightly shift or partly turn the piston and its stamp so as to
prevent unequal wear on the face of the latter. The lower ends of the cylinders
are in constant communication through suitable passages with a reservoir,
[which may before starting the mill be filled or supplied with compressed air
by a pump or otherwise, or with steam at a low pressure compared to that
which operates upon the pistons in their descent, or with steam and air com-
bined, or other aeriforin fluid or fluids at suitable relative pressure. The
object of this arrangement or attachment is to obtain a force sufficient to
alternately raise the pistons with their stamps, which of course may be con-
siderably less than the power necessary to give a forcible blow in their descent,
thereby economizing steam or power as compared with employing steam of an
equal pressure to both give the blow and lift each piston with its stamp,
besides in the action herein-after referred to of the valve giving more time for
the stampto deal its blow and remain under pressure in contact with the mass
after impact.
The following mode of supplying the reservoir may be adapted:-A small
pipe furnished with a cock connects the steain pipe with the reservoir pipe,
then on starting the mill by opening for a short interval the cock and letting
a jet of steam expand into the reservoir, and afterwards closing said cock, a
power will be furnished sufficient to effect the lift of the pistons, or a reservoir
for working compressed air may be employed, with an air pump attached for
filling it on starting the mill, and occasionally-at intervals if necessary to
compensate for leakage, but once filled the reservoir is not presumed to require
refilling during the working of the mill. This reservoir is in constant

page_text: communication by pipe with the cylinders below the pistons,as described,and
should be provided with a pressure regulating or blow-off valve to prevent
an excessive pressure accumulating in the reservoir Supposing the starting
cock to be opened admitting steam through the inlet valve to one of the
pistons to effect its descent and blow of the stamp, and the reservoir to be
filled as described with steam of, say, ten pounds pressure to the square inch,
more or less, while the steam acting on the upper surface of the piston
is of fifty or seventy-five pounds pressure, more or less, then will the
stamp (the piston of which is being depressed deal) a forcible blow to the
mass under its action, while the other piston is more slowly ascending under
the influence of the pressure in the reservoir, thus giving time for the blow
to be fully given, and the stamp instead of immediately jumping from or
leaving the work or mass after impact remains under full pressure for a short
interval on it. And in order that this principle may be carried out as fully
with one size or height of work as another (which variations necessitate
changes in the length of downward stroke of the pistons), each piston is
alternately made to change the position of the valve as it completes its ascent
by the rods or stems striking the set screws of the "sleeves" or tubular sockets.
Thus cach piston alternately only in finishing its ascent (which is after the
blow has been struck by the stamp attached to the other piston), opens the
exhaust to admit of the ascent of the stamp which has just finished its blow,
and at the same time establishing communication with the steam port of the
valve to give to the other piston a forcible descont. In this way a full aud
steady blow will be given whatever the amount of work under the stamp or
length of down stroke of the latter.
Applied to a steam hammer the same principle of action may be carried
out, substituting a hammer for the stamp, and an anvil or other suitable bed
for the mortars or troughs; but in such case, or where only one hammer is
used, the one of the two cylinders may be comparatively very small in diameter
to the hammer operating cylinder and have no piston rod projecting through
its bottom, the function of its piston being in that case confined to working
the valve in connection with the other or haminer piston as described. In
some cases a separate reservoir in constant communication with the cylinders
below the pistons may be dispensed with, and the steam valve on its being
operated towards the close of the ascent of either one piston made not only
to admit steam above said piston to produce the blow, but also by a suitable
construction of such valve and of passages connecting it with the cylinders
below the pistons it may by the same movement and at the same time admit
steam below the adjoining piston to effect the lift of it, each piston being so

page_text: operated alternately, and as in the previous instance being actuated by the
pistons in their upward movement only, which makes the stroke of the stamp
or hammer, whether long or short,dependent upon the work underit immaterial
so far as regards a full and effective blow being given.
It is obvious that this Invention is.also.applicable.to-other-purposes-where-
the operation is effected by percussion, such, for instance, as apparatus for
drilling, boring, or piercing rock or stone, the drills or tools being attached.
to the ends of the piston rods and operating in like mauner to the stamps or
hammers previously described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Garrett Tongue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Garrett Tongue, Her special licence that I, the said John Garrett
Tongue, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Garrett Tongue, 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,sbould 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS. IN STAMPS, HAMMERS, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH ACTUATED BY
STEAM, COMPRESSED AIR, OR OTHER AERIFORM FLUID, THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING
APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS PURPOSES. WHERE PERCUSSIVE FORCE IS EMPLOYED," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Christopher Retallick James and Nathau
Woodhull Condict, junior, both of Jersey City, in the County of Hudson,
and State of New Jersey, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, 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 Luvention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,

page_text: 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 John Garrett Tongue, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention,and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the attachment of the stamp or hammer to a
piston working in a cylinder, the lower end of which is in constant, com-
munication with a reservoir of steam, compressed air, or the two combined, or
other aeriform fluid or fluids of a sufficient pressure to raise the piston with its
stamp or hammer, and the upper end of which cylinder communicates through
a suitably operated valve with a steam boiler in which there is a pressure of
steam sufficiently in excess of that of the steam or fluid in the reservoir to act
on the upper surface of the piston carrying the stamp or hammer with a force
sufficient to produce as heavy a blow as may be desired, such valve afterwards
opening to the exhaust.
The Invention also relates to a combination with two stamps or hammers so
worked by pistons moving in separato cylinders of a valve having passages so
operated as to bring each cylinder alternately into communication with the
boiler, and so producing the alternate action of the pistons and their attached
stamps or hammers.
Where only one stamp or hammer is used then one of
these cylinders may be smaller than the other, and the function of its piston
confined to operate the valve.
The Invention also relates to means of operating the valve to alternate the
action of the two pistons by the action of each piston alternately as it
completes its ascending stroke, and whereby the blow of the stamp or hammer
of the other or descending piston is made or kept full on the work during and
after impact under the same pressure of steam on the piston, irrespective of
any variation in the stroke consequent upon change in the bulk or height of
the work being struck.
The Invention also relates to such a construction of the pistons and
arrangement of the valve steam passages thereto as that the incoming steam
from the boiler will exert a tendency to partially turn the pistons for the
purpose of turning the stamps.
The nature of the Invention having been specified, its description, with
reference to the accompanying Drawing forming part of this Specification, will
be proceeded with.
Figure 1 is mainly a vertical section of a stamping mill for pulverizing.ores.

page_text: or other materials constructed according to this Invention; Figure 2 is a
vertical section at right angles to Figure 1 of the upper portion of the same
taken through the steam valve; Figure 3,a section of the steam valve and its
passages at right angles to Figure 2; Figure 4, a plan of one of the pistons
detached; Figure 5, a plan view of the upper portion of the cylinders and
their passages which communicate with the valve; Figure 6, a side or end
view of the lower portion of the mill at right angles to Figure 1; Figure 7, a
plan of the mortars or trough in which the ore is placed to be pulverized; and
Figure 8 is a view of a compressed air reservoir and pump for filling it when
it is proposed to effect the lift of the stamps or hammers by air under pressure
acting on the under faces of the pistons. Like letters of reference indicate
like parts throughout the several Figures.
A, A, are columns constituting with a suitable head and base the frame of
the mill. The stamps B, B¹, are situated within said frame, the upper
portion of which carries the stamp operating cylinders C, C, while its bottom
is provided with ordinary or any suitable troughs or mortars D, D', into
which the ore or other materials to be pulverized is placed. The stamps B, B',
are secured to the lower ends of the vertical piston rods E, E, which pass
through stuffing boxes a, a, in the bottoms of the cylinders C, C¹³, said rods
being connected with or carrying pistons F, F, which work in said cylinders.
The piston rods E, E', are extended and pass upwards through the cylinders,
so as to form stems or rods b, b, which alternately serve to operate the valve.
On these stems or rods are fitted "sleeves" or tubular sockets c, c', provided
with set screws d, d, at the top, and connected by rods e, e', with and at
opposite ends to a cross bar fattached to the stem or spindle g of the valve G.
This valve is shown as of cylindrical or conical form,any other suitable kind
of valve, however, may be employed, and its action differently controlled to
alternate its admitting steam to and exhausting it from each cylinder alter-
nately, but the construction represented and the action of the valve herein-
after described is preferred. H is the valve chamber, and its steam passage
in communication with the hollow portion g'of the valve spindle connected by
any suitable joint so as to admit of its working with the inlet pipe I, which
conveys steam from a boiler, the inlet pipe being provided with a starting
cock i; J is the exhaust pipe communicating with the exhaust spacej of the
valve chamber; k, l, are passages establishing the connection alternately of
the two cylinders C, C',at their top, first with the steam and afterwards with
exhaust spacesorpassages of thevalve. These passages arepreferablycontinued
as represented in Figure 2,so that in admitting steam it will'impinge upon the ⚫
pistons at a tangent.the pistons being ribbed on their upper surfaces.as shown

page_text: in Figure 4, whereby each time steam is admitted it will exert a tendency to
slightly shift or partly turn the pistón and its stamp, so as to prevent unequal
wear on the face of the latter. The lower ends of the cylinders C, C¹; are in
constant communication through passages and pipe l, l, and m, with a
reservoir K, which may before starting the mill be filled or, supplied with
compressed air by a pump, or otherwise with steam at a low pressure
compared to that which operates upon the pistons F, F¹,in their descent, or
with steam and air combined, or other aeriform fluid or fluids at such relative
pressure. The object of this arrangement or attachment is to obtain a force
sufficient to alternately raise the pistons F, F, with their stamps, which, of
course, may be considerably less than the power necessary to give a forcible.
blow in their descent, thereby economizing steam or power as compared with
employing steam of an equal pressure to both give the blow and lift each
piston with its stamp, besides in the action herein-after referred to of the
valve G giving more time for the stamp to deal its blow and remain under
pressure in contact with the mass after impact.
The following mode of supplying the reservoir K may be adopted :--The
small pipe n, furnished with a cock o, connects the steam pipe I with the
reservoir pipe m, then on starting the mill by opening for a short interval
the cock o, letting a jet of steam expand into the reservoir, and afterwards
closing said cock a power will be furnished sufficient to effect the lift of the
pistons, and this power besubsequently maintained by any accidentalloakage
and the flow into and out from the cylinders repeatedly of the aeriform fluid
passing to and from the reservoir, which accordingly has its temperature kept
up by the heat of the cylinders. In Figure 8 such a reservoir for working
compressed air is shown separate, with an air pump M attached for filling it on
starting the mill, and occasionally at intervals if necessary to compensate for
leakage, but once filled the reservoir isnot presumed to requirerefilling during
the working of the mill. This reservoir is in constant communication by pipe
with the cylinders below the pistons, as described, and should be provided, as
may the reservoir in Figure 1, with a pressure regulating or blow-off valve N
to prevent an excessive pressure accumulating in the reservoir. Supposing
the starting cock i to be opened admitting steam through the inlet valve G to
oneofthepistons to effect its descent and blow of the stamp.and the reservoir K
to be filled,as described, with steam of, say, ten pounds pressure to the square
inch, more or less, while the steam acting on the upper surface of the piston
is of fifty or seventy-five pounds pressure, more or less, then will the stamp
(the piston of which is being depressed)deal a forcible blow to the mass under
its action, while the other piston is more slowly ascending under the influence

page_text: of the pressure in the reservoir, thus giving time for the blowto be fully given,
and the stamp instead of immediately jumping from or leaving the work or
mass after impact remains under full pressure for a short interval on it. And
in order that this principle may be carried out as fully with one size or height
of work as another. (which variations_necessitate changes in the length_of
downward stroke of the pistons), each piston F or F' is alternately made to
change the position of the valve G as it completes its ascent by the rods or
stems or b¹ striking the set screws d or d¹ of the "sleeves" or tubular
sockets c or c¹. Thus each piston alternately only in finishing its ascent
(which is after the blow has been struck by the stamp attached to the other
piston) opens the exhaust to admit of the ascent of the stamp which has just
finished its blow, and at the same time establishing communication with the
steam port of the valve to give to it (the other piston) a forcible descent. In
this way a full and steady blow will be given whatever the amount of work
under the stamp or length of down stroke of the latter.
Applied to a steam hammer the same principle of action may be carried
out, substituting a hammer for the stain p, and an anvil or other suitable bed
for the mortars or troughs; but in such case, or where only one hammer'is
used, the one of the two cylinders may be comparatively very small in.
diameter to the hammer operating cylinder, and havens piston.rod projecting
through its bottom, the function of its piston being in that case confined to
working the valve in connection with the other or hammer piston, as described.
In some cases a separate reservoir in constant communication with thecylinders
below the pistons may be dispensed with, and the steam valve on its being
operated towards the close of the ascent of either one piston made not only to
admit steam above said piston to produce the blow, but also by a suitable
construction of such valve and of passages connecting it with the cylinders
below the pistons it may by the same movement and at the same time admit
steam below the adjoining piston to effect the lift of it, each piston being so
operated alternately and as in the previous instance being actuated by the
pistons in their upward movement only, which makes the stroke of the stamp
or hammer, whether long or short, dependent upon the workunder it immaterial
so far as regards a full and effective blow being given.
It is obvious that this Invention is also applicable to other purposes where
the operation is effected by percussion, such, for instance, as apparatus for
drilling, boring, or piercing rock, stone, or other substances, the drills or tools
being attached to the ends of the piston rods and operating substantially in
like manner to the stamps or hammers previously described.
Having thus fully described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of

page_text: .
performing or carrying the same into practice, it will be evident that the form,
construction, and arrangement of the parts may be considerably varied
without departing from the true character of the improvements intended to
be secured and claimed under the above in part recited Letters Patent;
consisting,―
First, in the improved mode of operating a stamp or hammer by means of
a piston working in a cylinder, the upper end of which is opened at proper
intervals alternately to a steam boiler and to the atmosphere or exhaust,, and
the lower end of which is in constant communication with a reservoir of steam,
compressed air, or the two combined, or other aeriform fluid or fluids of
sensibly less pressure than that of the steam in the boiler, substantially as
herein-before described.
"
. Secondly, the combination with two stamps or hammers (so worked by
pistons moving in separate cylinders) of a valve so operated and passages
controlled by it so arranged as to bring each cylinder alternately into com
munication with the boiler, thereby producing the alternate action of the
pistons and their attached stamps or hammer, essentially as herein shown and
described.
:
Thirdly, the combination of two pistons working in separate cylinders, and
either one or both having stamps or hammers attached with a valve operated
by either piston alternately at the close of its ascent, and controlling the action
of both pistons, as herein described.
Fourthly, the improved arrangement of pistons F, F, one or both con-
structed substantially as herein described with ribs or projections on their one
side, or face, and hung freely to turn in the cylinders in which they operate in
combination with the steam inlets so arranged as that the steam in entering the
cylinder,exerts a tendency to rotate or partly turn the piston with its stamp or
hammer, substantially as herein set forth and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garrett Tongue, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE. (L.B.)