Improvements in Hydraulic Lifts and similar Appliances.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 4th Jan:, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Lifts and similar Appliances.
I, MATTHEW THOMAS MEDWAY Albert Lift Works Rolt Street Deptford S. E.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This my invention relates to improvements in lifts, hoists, cranes, presses and
other like machinery worked by hydraulic pressure, and has for its object the
economy of water or other liquid used in working the machinery, by automatically
regulating the quantity of supply according to the power required.
In order to carry this invention into practice I provide two or more rams
and cylinders according to the variation in power required, all the cylinders of
which are attached to one orosshead.
This crosshead is provided at its outer end with a short cylinder, in which
works a ram carrying the rope or chain pulley or pulleys, in the same manner
as in the usual jigger hoist, the pulleys at the outer end being attached to a
crosshead connecting the rams, working in the cylinders aforesaid. This said
short cylinder communicates with the pressure main in which is fixed a non
return valve, to prevent any water being forced back into the prossure main.
A branch pipe from this cylinder also communicates with a weighted plunger
regulating valve having two or more ports according to the number of rams and
cylinders, each port being in communication with its respective cylinder.
The action of this arrangement is as follows:-When the pressure main is
opened by the starting valve of the lift, or hydraulic machine, the pressure is
exerted against the ram in the short cylinder having the rope or chain pulley or
pulleys. If the load is light the pressure forces the ram outwardly the tension
on the rope or chain by reason of the lightness of the load not being sufficient to
counteract the pressure from the main. "The plunger regulating valve is loaded
so that it shall counterbalance or be slightly in excess of the pressure exerted
against it, but so arranged as that one port communicating with one ram cylinder
shall be always open. Should the loud however be increased so that the tension
on the rope or chain, and consequently on the pulley or pulleys on the short ram
aforesaid causes the said ram to overcome the normal pressure in the main, but
being prevented from acting against the pressure by the non return valve, -it acts
on the plunger of the regulating valve and forces it against its lond, causing it to
recede in the plunger chamber, thereby opening the next port, and allowing the
pressure to act on the next corresponding ram.
It is evident that by this arrangement, as the load increases, the ports in the
regulating valve are respectively opened, and the pressure brought to act on the
corresponding rams of the jigger until the requisite aggregate pressure is obtained,
when the ram in the short cylinder on the crosshead remains balanced in position
on account of the tension on the pulley or pulleys and the pressure on its end
being equal, the plunger on the regulating valve consequently remains in balanced
position, opening the ports necessary to keep the requisite number of rams in action
o lift the load.
As soon as the load is decreased, the plunger closes the ports, and shuts off the
supply to the rams till the power is sufficient to support the load and no more,
thus reserving surplus supply and saving it till required.
In place of the weighted plunger in the regulating valve, I provide as ap
alternative, an arrangement of levers, which may be worked by hand, foot, or any

page_text: suitable means, and by which the regulation of the supply may be directly
under the control of the operator, in which case the short cylinder and ram
attached to the rope or chain pulleys aforesaid will not be required.
I also further provide an alternative automatic arrangement for use in lifts or
hoists, by means of which the load itself regulates the supply, of water according
to the weight to be raised. This accomplish by means of a loose platform
placed at a convenient distance above the floor of the lift or hoist, which
platform is free to move up or down a certain distance as may be required, and
when not in action may be held in a fixed position by bolts or cams underneath
actuated by hand levers in the cage. Attached to the underside of said
platform are links, pinned to short crank levers connected with a shaft or axle,
having bearings attached to the cage framing. Motion is communicated by
means of this shaft to a long lever placed horizontally, the outer end of which is
continued to the outside of the cage.
I provide two pulleys, one at the top of the lift space, and revolving on fixed
bearings, the other at the bottom and loose. I provide a chain or rope, one end of
which is fixed to the top or other convenient part of the cage, and passes up and
over the top pulley and down and under the bottom pulley, and is attached at the
other end to the long lever aforesaid.
The bottom pulley is suspended on this chain or rope and revolves on a spindle,
from which hangs a shackle the bottom of which is attached to the plunger of the
regulating valve herein before described.
The plunger is weighted by a series of weights, regulated to balance the loads
on the aforesaid platform, said weights sliding in suitable guides. When the
platform is brought into action by withdrawing the aforesaid bolts or cams, the
load on the platform depresses the short crank levers and raises the long horizontal
lever, and pulls up the rope or chain suspended therefrom, and likewise raises the
bottom hanging pulley and the weighted plunger of the regulating valve. As the
load increases, the bottom set of weights thereby continue to rise till they meet
another art of weights, and raise these and so on till the maximum load is
obtained.
It is obvious that the increase of the load thereby raises the plunger and opens
the ports in the regulating valve, and admits water to the several rams aforesaid,
but when the load is reduced or released altogether, the weights lower the plunger
and close the ports one by one, thus shutting off the rams when not required.
If preferred I make use of springs in place of weights.
I also provide an arrangement by which the ram cylinders, when not under
pressure are kept charged with water from a small supply tank.
This invention may be modified so as to apply to what are known as balanced
ram.lifts, as likewise to hydraulic cranes, presses and similar machines.
Dated this 28th day of February 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in Hydraulic Lifts and similar Appliances.
I MATTHEW THOMAS MEDWAY Albert Lift Works Rolt Street Deptford
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manuer the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This my invention relates to lifts, hoists, cranes, presses, and other like machinery
worked by hydraulic pressure, and has for its object the economy of water, or
other liquid used in working the machinery by automatically regulating the.
quantity of supply according to the power required.
23. J

page_text: In order to carry this invention into practice, 1 provide two or more rams and
cylinders according to the variation in power required, all the cylinders of which
may be attached to one crosshead.
This crosshead is provided at its outer end with a short cylinder, in which
works a ram carrying the rope or chain pulley or pulleys, iu the same manner as
in the usual jigger hoist, the pulleys at the other end being attached to a crosshead
connecting the rams working in the cylinders aforesaid. This said short cylinder
communicates with the pressure main, in which is fixed a non-return valve, to
prevent any water being forced back into the pressure main. A branch pipe from
this cylinder also communicates with a weighted plunger regulating valve having
two or more ports according to the number of rams and cylinders, each .port
communicating with its respective cylinder.
The action of this arrangement is as follows: When the pressure main is opened
by the starting valve of the lift, or hydraulic machine, the pressure is exerted
against the ram in the short cylinder, having the rope or chain pulley or pulleys.
If the load is light, the pressure forces the rain outwardly, the tension on the
rope or chain by reason of the lightness of the load not being sufficient to
counteract the pressure from the main.
The plunger regulating valve is loaded so that it shall counterbalance, or be
slightly in excess of the pressure exerted against it, but so arranged as that one
port communicating with one ram and cylinder shall be always open. Should the
load however be increased,-
-so that the tension on the rope or chain and con-
sequently on the pulley or pulleys on the short ram aforesaid causes said ram to
overcome the normal pressure in the main, but being prevented from acting against
the pressure by the non-return valve,-it acts on the plunger of the regulating valve,
and forces it against its load, causing it to recede in the plunger chamber, thereby
opening the next port, and allowing the pressure to act on the next corresponding
ram.
It is evident that by this arrangement, as the load increases, the ports in the
regulating valve are respectively opened, and the pressure brought to act on the
corresponding rams of the machine until the requisite aggregate power is obtained,
when the ram in the short cylinder on the crosshead remains balanced in position
on account of the tension on the pulley or pulleys, and the pressure on its end
being equal, the plunger of the regulating valve consequently remains in balanced
position, opening the ports necessary to keep the requisite number of rams in
action to lift the load.
As soon as the load is decreased the plunger closes the ports, and shuts off
the supply and no more, thus reserving surplus supply and saving it till required.
In place of the weighted plunger in the regulating valve, I provide as an alter-
native, an arrangement of levers, which may be worked by hand, fuot, or any
suitable means, and by which the regulation of the supply may be directly under
the control of the operator, in which case the short cylinder and rain attached to
the rope or chain pulleys aforesaid will not be required.
I also further provide au alternative automatic arrangement for use in lifts or
hoists, by means of which the load itself regulates the supply of water according
to the weight to be raised.
This I accomplish by means of a loose platform placed at a convenient distance
above the floor of the lift or hoist cage, which platform is free to move up and down.
a certain distance as may be required, and when not in action may be held in a
fixed position by bolts or cams underneath actuated by hand levers in the cage.
•
Attached to the underside of said platform are links pinned to short crank
levers connected with a shaft or axle having bearings attached to the cage framing.
Motion is communicated by means of this shaft to a long lever placed horizontally,
the outer end of which is continued to the outside of the cage.
I provide two pulleys one at the top of the lift space, and revolving on fixed
bearings, the other at the bottom and loose. I provide a chain or rope one end
of which is fixed to the top or other convenient part of the cage, and passes

page_text: up and over the top pulley and down and under the bottom pulley, and is
attached at or near the other end to the long lever aforesaid.
The bottom pulley is suspended on this chain or rope and revolves on a
spindle, from which hangs a shackle, the bottom of which is attached to the
plunger of the regulating valve hereinbefore described.
The plunger is weighted by a series of weights, regulated to balance the loads
(o the aforesaid platform, said weights sliding in suitable guides.
When the platform is brought into action by withdrawing the aforesaid bolts or
rams, the load on the platform depresses the short crank levers, and raises the long
horizontal lever, and pulls up the rope or chain suspended therefrom, and likewise
raises the bottom banging pulley and the weighted plunger of the regulating valve.
As the load increases, the bottom set of weights thereby continue to rise till they
meet another set of weights, and raise these and so on till the maximum load is
obtained.
It is obvious that the increase of the load thereby raises the plunger and opens
the ports in the regulating valve, and admits water to the several rams aforesaid,
but when the load is reduced or released altogether, the weights lower the plunger
and close the ports one by one, thus shutting off the rams when not required.
If preferred I make use of springs in place of weights.
This invention may be modified so as to apply to what are known as balanced
ram lifte, as likewise to hydraulic cranes, presses, and similar machines.
I also provide an arrangement by which the ram cylinders when not under
pressure are kept charged with water.
In order that my invention may be readily understood, I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1, represents an arrangement of cylinders and rams, with the short cylinder
attached to the cylinders aforesaid, with the connecting pipes and weighted
regulating valve. Fig. 2 shews an enlarged section of aforesaid regulating valve,
shewing also the hand lever arrangement.
Fig. 3 represents an arrangement of a lift cage, with the loose platform herein-
before mentioned, with the links, levers, pulleys, and weighted regulating valve,
whereby the load in the cage automatically regulates the power required. Fig. 4 is
an adaptation of the same device to be worked by the foot or other similar
convenient means.
In Fig. 1, A A A are the rams, and B B B are the cylinders, of a hydraulic
jigger lift; provided with pulleys, and chaius or ropes in the usual manner.
The outer ends of these said rams and cylinders are attached to one cross-
head C, C, respectively, the ram crosshead having a bracket for carrying the rope
or chain pulley or pulleys D. At the outer end of the cylinder crosshead C, is
attached a short cylinder, E, in which works a ram or plunger F, having at its
outer end brackets for carrying the chain or rope pulley or pulleys G.
Communication is made with the starting valve of the lift and the pressure
supply pipe, by means of the pipe H, which is provided with a non return valve J
so that the water is prevented from returning when it has passed this valve.
A branch pipe K from this short cylinder communicates with the regulating
valve L, in which works the plunger P, which is loaded by means of the weight M,
actuating the crank lever O, so that the plunger is always kept pressing towards
the inner end of the valve. This valve is provided with ports or openings
corresponding to and communicating with the several cylinders of the jigger by
ineans of pipes N, N, N, the end port and pipe however being kept always open to
pressure as hereinbefore mentioned. Qis a charging tank, for providing water to
the ram cylinders when not under pressure.
Fig. 2 shews the regulating valve adapted to be worked by means of the hand
lever R, in place of the automatic arrangement shewn in Fig. 1.
In Fig. 3, S is the cage, auspended and working from a top pulley in the usual
manner, T being the loose platform hereinbefore mentioned, which is held up in
place by bolts U II, worked by the lever V. Underneath the said platform are

page_text: attached pins W, and links X, which links are pinned to short crank levers Y,,
working on bearings and pins Z, Z. Two or more sets of these pins and levers:
may be provided to distribute the action of the loose platform evenly over the
surface of the floor of the cage, said pins & levers being connected together in a
suitable manner so that all may act at one and the same time.
The pin or shaft at Z', is provided with a long lever a, which extends to the;
outside of the cage, and is fixed at its onter end to a rope or chain b. This rope,
or chain passes up and over a top pulley c, and down and under a bottom pulley d.,
said rope being fixed to the cage in a convenient position as at e, so that the rope
travels with the cage. The top rope pulley e revolves in a fixed position, but the,
bottom rope pulley d hangs loose on the rope or chain and revolves in it, on the
spindle, from which hangs a rod or shackle g, terminating with the plunger P of
the regulating valve L, having ports and pipes N, N, N communicating with the
several cylinders in the same manner as hereinbefore described in Fig. 1. The
plunger rod has a weight h, which tends to keep it down towards the end of the
valve but not so as to cover the bottom port which is always kept open. When
the load on the loose platform increases, it raises the long lever a aud pulls up the
rope and consequently raises the lower pulley d, and the plunger P, till it comes,
in contact with the weight . If the load on the loose platform is sufficient to
overcome the resistance of this weight it raises that also, and thereby opens:
communication between the pressure main K and the next port and connecting
pipes and admits water to the additional cylinder. As the load increases this
action continues, and the next set of weights are raised and so on till the whole
of the ports are opened and the maximum power is obtained.
-
As the load on the loose platform lightens, this action is reversed, and the ports
of the regulating valve are automatically closed and the pressure shut off from the
ram cylinders one by one.
The aforesaid weights may be arranged to slide up and down in guides and are.
provided with stops as shown at jjjj upon which they rest when not in action.
In the modification shewn in Fig. 4, the arrangement of loose platform with
pins, links and levers are dispensed with and the long lever a¹ is actuated by means
of a foot lever & or other similar means if preferred.
I do not confine myself to the precise details hercin set forth, as it is obvious
that further modifications may be adopted in application of the principle of this my
invention.
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 I
claim is :-
1. In hydraulic lifts, hoists, cranes, presses and other like machinery worked by
hydraulic pressure, and having a series of rams and cylinders for varying the
power required, the combination of a separate short cylinder aud ram, in connection
with and actuating a weighted regulating valve, having a series of ports and
connection pipes communicating with the respective cylinders and rams, working
said bydraulic lifts or machinery, for the purpose of opening or closing the
admission of pressure to each or any of said cylinders according to the power
required, substantially as herein set forth and described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
2. In hydraulic lifts, hoists, cranes, presses or other like machinery worked by
hydraulic pressure, , and having a series of rams and cylinders for varying the power
required, the provision of a lever or other similar means for actuating a regulating
valve, said valve having a series of ports and connection pipes, communicating with
the respective cylinders and rams, working said hydraulic lifts or machinery,
for the purpose of opening or closing the admission of pressure to each or any of
the said cylinders according to the power required, substantially as herein wet forth
and described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. In hydraulic lifts or hoists, or other like machinery worked by hydraulic
·

page_text: pressure, and having a series of rams and cylinders for varying the power
required, the combination of a loose platform (provided with or without locking
bolts and levers) actuating-by means of links, levers, a continuous rope or chain
moving round au upper and lower pulley, and a series of weights, a regulating
valve; said valve having a series of ports and connection pipes communicating with
the respective cylinders and rams, working said hydraulic lifts or machinery, for
the purpose of opening or closing the admission of pressure to each or any of said
gylinders according to the power required, substantially as herein set forth and
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
4. In hydraulic lifts or hoists, or other like machinery worked by hydraulic
pressure, and having a series of rams and cylinders for varying the power
required, the combination of a lever worked by the foot or other similar con-
venient means, actuating by means of a continuous rope or chain moving round
an upper and lower pulley and a series of weights, a regulating valve; Baid
valve having a series of ports and connection pipes communicating with the
respective cylinders and rams, working said hydraulic lifts or machinery, for the
purpose of opening and closing the admission of pressure to each or any of
the said cylinders according to the power required, substantially as herein set
forth and described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
5. In hydraulic lifts, hoists, cranes, presses or other like machinery, the com-
bination of any or all of the aforesaid modifications adapted for the purpose of
opening and closing the admission of pressure to each or any of a series of rams
and cylinders, used for varying the power required, substantially as herein set
forth and described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
6. The application of this invention to any form of hydraulic lift, hoist, crane,
press or other like machinery, substantially as herein set forth and described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of November 1895.