IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINES FOR SHEARING AND PUNCHING
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ratliffe, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINES FOR
SHEARING AND PUNCHING."
Sealed the 7th February 1879, and dated the 12th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ratliffe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th November 1878.
_GEORGE RATLIFFE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINES FOR SHEARING AND PUNCHING."
My improved hydraulic machine for shearing is particularly adapted for shearing
blooms of Bessemer steel, but it may be used for other purposes.
The machine consists of a strong frame supporting the fixed jaw, and of a
movable jaw fixed to a sliding frame which is held up by a small hydraulic ram
working in a cylinder formed in the lower cross bar of the sliding frame, the
movable jaw is brought down by a large hydraulic ram and cylinder, the ram of
which acts upon the lower cross bar which connects the side bars of the sliding
frame.
The side bars are made of wrought iron or steel and the hydraulic pressure is
brought direct by the side bars to the movable jaw.
The table for supporting the bloom is connected to the movable jaw and works
up and down with it.
When my Invention is applied to punching machines I employ a fixed die and a
movable punch in lieu of the shear blades.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Ratliffe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th May
1879.
GEORGE RATLIFFE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINES FOR SHEARING AND PUNCHING."
My improved hydraulic machine for shearing is particularly adapted for shearing
blooms of Bessemer steel, but it may be used for other purposes.

page_text: The machine consists of a strong frame supporting the fixed jaw, and of a movable
jaw fixed to a sliding frame which is held up by a small hydraulic ram working in a
cylinder formed in the lower cross bar of the sliding frame; the movable jaw is
brought down by a large hydraulic ram and cylinder, the ram of which acts upon
the lower cross bar which connects the side bars of the sliding frame. The side
bars are made of wrought iron or steel and the bydraulic pressure is brought direct
by the side bars to the movable jaw; thus the parts in tension are made of
wrought iron or steel, and the parts in compression of cast iron.
The table for supporting the bloom is connected to the movable jaw formed by
the upper cross bar, and works up and down with it.
When my Invention is applied to punching machines I employ a fixed die and a
movable punch, or vice versa in lieu of the shear blades.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings.
On Sheet 1 Fig. 1 is a front view and Fig. 2 a side view of my improved
hydraulic shearing machine. On Sheet 2 Fig. 3 is a plan of the machine, and Fig.
4 is a plan of the table for supporting the bloom; a is the frame supporting the
stationary cutter b, and c is the movable cutter fixed to the cross bar d¹ of the
sliding frame d, the side bars of which are connected by the cross bars d¹ and d².
The sliding frame is held up by the small hydraulic ram e, fitting in a cylinder el
formed in the lower cross bar d². The ram e is fixed to the cross piece a¹ connected
to the frame a by the stays a². The movable cutter c is brought down by the large
hydraulic ram f, working in the cylinder g, and acting upon the lower cross bar d².
When water under pressure is admitted to the cylinder g, the ram f overcomes the
resistance of the water in the cylinder e'. The side bars of the sliding frame are
made of wrought iron or steel, and the pressure of the large hydraulic ram is thus
brought direct to the movable cutter c. The table h for supporting the bloom is
connected to the upper cross bar d¹, and works up and down with it, this table is
composed of a number of rollers supported in side frames. The portion of bloom cut
off rests upon the rollers of the table, which is raised with the upper cross bar a¹
by the small hydraulic ram e, as soon as the exhaust pipe of the large ram fis
opened and is then in a convenient position to be delivered on to a truck or trolley.
When my Invention is applied to punching machines I employ a fixed die and
a movable punch, or vice versa, in lieu of the shear blades above described.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention and described a convenient mode
of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the details given, and that I claim,―
Firstly. The general combination of parts shewn and described, forming a
machine for shearing and punching iron and other metals by hydraulic power, and,
Secondly. The table for supporting the bloom attached to the movable jaw or
cross bar, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Ratliffe, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and seventy
GEORGE RATLIFFE. (L.S.)