IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES AND IN KNUCKLE JOINT ACTIONS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PRESSING OR FORCING APPLIANCES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marshall Stonehouse, of South Stockton on Tecs, in the
County of York, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES AND IN
KNUCKLE JOINT ACTIONS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PRESSING OR FORCING
APPLIANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marshall Stonehouse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1880.
MARSHALL STONEHOUSE, of South Stockton on Tees, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES AND IN KNUCKLE JOINT ACTIONS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PRESSING OR FORCING APPLIANCES."
In most cases where toggle arm presses are used certain disadvantages occur in
their working, and much time and labour are lost in consequence, as in all cases the
bulk of material to be operated on must be such as to suit the requirements of
the press, instead of the pross accommodating itself to the requirements of the
material.
The disadvantages of togglo arm presses hitherto in use may be classed as
follows:-
1st. In a a toggle arm press to get the stroke or travel of platten or follower that
is required, the arms have generally to be extended to such an angle that for about
three fourths of the travel of the platten thero is little more power obtained than
could be put on by an ordinary screw acting directly on the platten, and it is
only for the very last portion of such travel that an excessive pressure is obtained.
2nd. The material to be operated upon must not exceed a certain quantity, or
the arms will not be able to get into a position sufficiently vertical to give the
pressure required.
3rd. If the material to be pressed be but a little less than the press requires, the
platten being only able to travel downwards until the arms are in a vertical
position, the required pressure cannot be got, but the press must be slacked back
and packings of various thicknesses introduced from time to time until the point is
found where the required pressure can be got.
4th. The toggle arm presses as at present used are found to be quite unfit for
ong strokes.

page_text: 5th. Where boxes are used they have generally to be cut away to give clearance
to the arms, and deep and heavy plattens have mostly to be used.
By my Invention, which I will now proceed to explain, all the disadvantages and
objections above mentioned are entirely overcome, as I arrange the so called
"knuckle joint action" in combination with certain other parts in such a
manner that any length of stroke or travel can be obtained, and as nearly as
possible an equal pressure maintained throughout the same, all as herein after
described. Two or more pairs of arms jointed at one end to each other direct or by
an intermediate piece, and jointed at the other ends to a stationary head, and
sliding head or follower, or head and followers, or sliding heads respectively, are
caused to reciprocate by eccentrics, cans, or other convenient means, whereby the
followers, sliding heads, or sliding blocks to which the arms are attached receive a
short movement in the opposite direction.
In combination herewith I use what I call wings or notched or stepped "filling
up picces," which are connected to the before mentioned sliding blocks, and by
dropping into their places on suitable projections on the platten impart either a
continuous or an intermittent motion to the said platten in the direction of the
material to be compressed, according to the number of arms used.
Or according to another arrangement 1 connect to the press platten one or more
strong pressing screws guided in the head block and follower; if I use two
followers, I place under each on the screw a correspondingly screwed toothed wheel;
if only one follower is used, I place one screwed tooth wheel under the said
follower, and one under the head block; the screwed wheels are caused by tooth
or other gearing to make a part of a revolution on the screw, so that when the
follower rises the screw is held down by the top wheel, and the lower wheel
ascends a short distance, bringing it close up to the follower; on its next down-
ward motion a downward movement is imparted to the screw by the said screwed
wheel. This operation can be continued as often as requisite, giving to the press
any length of stroke that may be required, and such stroke may either be
immediately continuous or intermittent, which depends upon whether one or more
followers are employed..
I
may
also use instead of the screw or screws above named one or more standards
or racks with notches or pockets for arms or distance pieces to drop in for giving
the downward motion, or I may use any other suitable method of filling up the
distance which is consequently increasing between the fixed head and platten,
either by cast-iron pieces, water cylinders, or otherwise; or 1 may use toggle arms
of greater length than those employed in giving the travel, and connect them to the
stationary head and platten respectively.
Where found convenient the arms may be connected directly to the platten, and
have the gearing arrangement above described between the other or top ends
of arms and head block.
The press may be arranged to be vertical, inverted, or horizontal.
By this Invention 1 get throughout the whole stroke or travel of the platten the
greatest power that can be obtained by forcing the arms, which are, say, only about
21/2 inches out of a straight line, into line, giving, say, at each operation about 1/2 inch
travel at the end connected to the follower, followers, or sliding blocks, and by
repeating this operation the stroke may be increased to any length.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Marshall Stonehouse at the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
October 1880.
MARSHALL STONEHOUSE, of South Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES AND IN KNUCKLE-JOINT ACTIONS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PRESSING OR FORCING APPLIANCES."
In most cases where toggle arm presses are used, certain disadvantages occur in
their working, and much time and labour are lost in consequence, as in all cases the
bulk of material to be operated on must be such as to suit the requirements of
the press, accommodating itself to the requirements of the material.
The disadvantages of toggle arm presses hitherto in use may be classed as
follows:-
First. In a toggle arm press to get the stroke or travel of platten or follower
that is required, the arms have generally to be extended to such an angle that for
about three-fourths of the travel of the platten there is little more power obtained
than could be put on by an ordinary screw acting directly on the platten, and it
is only for the very last portion of such travel that an excessivo pressure is
obtained.
Second. The material to be operated upon must not exceed a certain quantity, or
the arms will not be able to get into a position sufficiently vertical to give the
pressure required.
Third. If the material to be pressed be but a little less than the press requires,
the platten being only able to travel downwards until the arms are in a vertical
position, the required pressure cannot be got, but the press must be slacked back
and packings of varying thicknesses introduced from time to time until the point
is found where the required pressure can be got.
Fourth. The toggle arm presses at present used are found to be quite unfit for
long strokes.
Fifth. Where boxes are used they have generally to be cut away to give clearance
to the arms, and deep and heavy plattens have mostly to be used.
By my Invention, which I will now proceed to explain, all the disadvantages and
objections above mentioned are entirely overcome, as I arrange the so-called "knuckle
joint action" in combination with certain other parts in such a manner that
any length of stroke or travel can be obtained, and as nearly as possible an equal
pressure inaintained throughout the same, all as hereinafter described. Two or more
pairs of arms jointed at one end to each other direct or by an intermediate piece,
and jointed at the other ends to a stationary head and sliding head or follower, or
heads and followers, or sliding heads respectively, are caused to reciprocate by
eccentrics, cams, or other convenient means, whereby the followers, sliding heads, or
sliding blocks to which the arms are attached receive a short movement in tho
opposite direction.
In combination herewith I use what I call wings, or notched or stepped filling up
pieces, which are connected to the before mentioned sliding blocks, and by dropping
into their places on suitable projections on the pattern, impart either a continuous or
an intermittent motion to the said platten in the direction of the material to be
compressed, according to the number of arms used.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a front elevation of a press constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 2, an end elevation; Figure 3, a plan section at
the centre of the arms a; Figure 4 a plan section through the sliding blocks b;
and Figure 5, a sectional view showing the joint of an eccentric rod with the
arms a.
This press is intended to maintain its full pressure throughout the stroke. The
construction is as follows:-u, a, are three pairs of arms on each side which are

page_text: caused to oscillate alternately by means of eccentrics on a centro shaft 6, which
shaft is driven by any suitable arrangement of gearing as may be found desirable,
such as tooth wheels m, n, o, and p, and strap pulley 2. Each pair of the arins a
are connected to sliding blocks b which slide in a guide frame c.
These sliding blocks are again connected to what I call wings or filling up
pieces d.
vis a platten or follower sliding on the columns with suitable projections
corresponding with the steps or notches of the wings d.
f is a barrel running loose on one of the quick motion shafts, and g is a friction
clutch working on a feather on the same shaft. When pulling down the handle h
acting on a bell crank lever 8 the barrel fis caused to revolve, thus winding up the
wings d and platten vattached to it. When it is required to go to work, and the
material to be compressed is filled in, the handle is pushed up, whereby the
barrel fis set at liberty, the platten v descends quickly on to the material, and
the three wings d on each side which are caused to work alternately by the
eccentrics and eccentric rods / give a continuous travel to the platten until
the last notch d' is reached in the wings, when although the press may bo left to
run no breakage can take place on account of the said last notch or step d¹ being of
much greater height than the others, and the eccentrics only giving a certain
limited travel corresponding to the height of the steps d².
Or according to a modified arrangement for securing the same objects and
advantages connect to the press platten one or more strong pressing screws
guided in the press head or head block and follower; if I use two followers I place
under each on the screw a correspondingly screwed tooth wheel; if only one
follower is used I place one screwed tooth wheel under the said follower and one
under the head block; the screwed wheels are caused by tooth or other gearing to
make a part of a revolution on the screw, so that when the follower rises the screw
is held down by the top wheel and the lower wheel ascends a short distance,
bringing it close up to the follower; on its next downward motion a downward
movement is imparted to the screw by the said screwed wheel. This operation
can be continued as often as requisite, giving to the press any length of stroke
that may be required, and such stroke may either be immediately continuous
or intermittent, which depends upon whether one or more followers are employed.
Figure 6 of the accompanying Drawings is a front elevation of a press constructed
according to this modification; Figure 7, a side elevation; Figure 8, a plan section
just below the press head; and Figure 9, a plan section below the upper follower;
Figures 10 and 11 are details drawn to a larger scale.
In this press the full pressure is maintained throughout the stroke and can
be indefinitely extended by lengthening the columns and the pressing screw d.
The shaft p is caused to revolve by belt on the belt pulley 7; the shaft p has a
right and left hand worm o, o³, which communicate with worm wheels m, m³, on
shafts l,, which have eccentrics & working in blocks which give a reciprocating
motion to the knuckle arms a, a¹; according to position here shown in the Drawing
the outer arms a, connected to follower e, are fully extended, i.c., they are only a
very short distance from being in a straight line, and the inner arms a¹ connected
to follower c¹ are about to descend, thus the followers e and e' have cach an
alternate stroke given by the eccentrics and impart motion to the knuckle
arms a, a¹.
d is a pressing screw guided in the press head and in the follower e, and kept
from turning by a gib e³ which projects into a slot in the screw, leaving the latter
free to move up or down.
Underneath the followers e and e¹ are two spur wheels band b¹ threaded in
their bosses to suit the screw, and as the followers e, e², ascend alternately these
spur wheels band b' are caused to follow them (by gearing hereafter explained)
ready to receive the next downward motion of the followers, and thus communicate
the downward movement alternately to the screw d; f is a chain wheel on shaft Z
for communicating motion to a loose chain wheel t on vertical shaft b (ƒ and t

page_text: being the same size), f¹ is also a loose chain wheel which has motion communicated
to it by a large chain wheel fon shaft ; and ² are loose chain pulleys acting
as guides; and 63 are pinions with teeth on only part of the circumference and
are made, say, inch deeper than the wheels b and b¹, into which they gear, and
are so keyed on shaft bt that only the ono is in gear which is wanted to turn the large
wheel b or b¹ under the ascending followers e or el at the same time.
Then by
moving the friction clutch g downwards by means of a lever s the chain wheel f
imparts a motion to each of the large toothed wheels b and b¹ alternately, which
keeps them close up to their respective followers e and e¹ as they move upwards,
and thus a constant downward motion is imparted to the screw d and the head v
on the lower end thereof.
The friction clutch g cannot turn on its shaft b¹ but is free to move up or down
on a feather thereon.
In order to ensure a regular and reliable motion of the sliding heads e and e¹ it
is necessary that the sector pinions 62, 63, should each time gear with the right
teeth or same teeth of their nut wheels b and b' respectively; for this purpose each
but wheel b and b¹ has a star wheel y, and each sector pinion 63 and 6³ a corro-
sponding cam gearing therewith. Figure 10 is an enlarged plan of underside
of star wheel y and cam z, with nut wheel b and sector pinion be; Figure 11 is a
front elevation of same.
When it is required to reverse the press, that is, to cause the head and screw d
to ascend, the friction clutch' is moved upward by the lever 8; thus it leaves the
chain pulley t and is caused by the chain pulley f¹ to revolve in an opposite
direction and at a much quicker speed, so that an increased speed is got and less
time taken for the upward motion.
Instead of chain gear, as shown on Drawing, bevel or other gear may be
employed to obtain the requisite motion of large toothed wheels b and b¹ on the
screw d.
By means of cono strap pulleys (instead of the strap pulley q) and gear for gradually
shifting the driving strap thereon, the shaft p could be given a gradually decreasing
revolving speed for the purpose of running the head down quicker at the
beginning of the pressing operation, and for accelerating the ascent or return
of it.
Instead of the eccentrics I may use cams of any suitable shape to suit the
special requirements of the press or machine to be made. The arms a may be
worked from one shaft with three eccentrics on; Figure 12 is a plan section of
such an arrangement, and Fig. 13 front elevation; on the shaft are fixed three
eccentrics set in opposite directions. The outside eccentrics and work the
arms a on the farthest side from it, and the centre eccentric works the arms a
nearest to it. By a modification of the gearing the press may be simplified, and
adapted to be worked by hand.
Figure 14 is a front elevation, and Figure 15 a plan of a press in which the
spindle b is caused to revolve by means of bevil gear, and with a slow motion and
a quick motion. On the shaft p¹ of the slow motion strap pulley 9' are right and
left hand worms or screws o, o¹, gearing into worm wheels m, m', on the shafts 1, 11,
for working the eccentrics ; on the shaft there is a mitre wheel which gears
with a mitre wheel f, and on the spindle of the latter there is a mitre wheel fƒ³
which gears with a mitre wheel ƒ³ on the vertical spindle bª, communicating the
slow descending motion to the screw d and platen v by means of the tooth sector
wheels 2 and 3 on the spindle b', said sector wheels alternately communicating
partial revolving motion to the nut wheels b and b¹ on the screw d, causing the
latter to descend slowly in the same way as described with reference to Figures 6
to 9, only that in this case I employ one sliding head e only instead of two, the
nut wheels band b¹ working against the stationary head H and sliding head e
respectively.
q is the pulley for the quick motion shaft p, which is brought into action when
the quick down or up motion is required for the screw d and follower v.

page_text: On the shaft p there is a sliding clutch g for bringing the shaft p in fixed
connection with the mitre wheel r or the nitro wheel r, thereby causing the
eccentric shaft to revolve in one direction or the other, that is, for lowering or
raising the screw d. The spur wheels (, t, 2, 3, communicate motion to the
other eccentric shaft ; the shafts and have clutches M and M' for putting in
gear the worm wheel m or the worm wheel m', all according as the press is
worked from the quick motion pulley q¹ or slow motion pulley q. By the above
arrangement it will be seen that the screw d may be given varied speed for the
down stroke and up stroke.
Figure 16 is a front elevation, and Figure 17 a plan of a much simpler
arrangement of press in which the speed is uniform throughout the up stroke and
the down stroke of the screw d, but where nevertheless by the driving strap
pulley arrangement outside of the press itself the screw & may receive uniformly
slow descent and uniformly quick ascent, or if desired and by means of cone pulleys
outside of the press itself, the screw d may receive a gradually decreasing speed in
the descent, and a gradually increasing speed in the ascent.
The worm shaft is in this case provided with fast and loose belt pulley at each
end, one belt being open and the other crossed, so that it may receive right
hand or left hand revolving motion, one for the ascent, and the other for the descent
of the screw d. The worins o and o' gearing with the worm wheels m and m',
cause the eccentric shafts band 6 to revolve as before; the vertical spindle b
receives motion from the shaft by means of the mitre wheels f, f¹, fs, ƒ³. It
will thus be seen that all the mitre wheels on the left-hand side shown in
Figures 7 and 8, and all the spur wheels t, t¹, t², t³, and also the clutches M, M³, are
omitted.
A great many modifications of the above arrangements may be applied without
departing from the essential features of this Invention. Thus for instance the
action may be reversed by causing the screw d to revolve by suitable gearings, and
so as to give either a quick upward or downward motion of the platten or head v.
For this purpose the barrel or screw d may be made to revolve and to screw itself
up through the nut wheels b and b'.
Where found convenient the arms may be connected directly to the platten, and
have the gearing arrangement above described between the other or top ends of
arms and head block. The press may be arranged to be vertical, inverted, or
horizontal.
By this Invention I get throughout the whole stroke or travel of the platten the
greatest power that can be obtained by forcing the arms, which are, say, only
about two and a half inches, out of a straight line into line giving, say, at each
operation about half an inch travel at the end connected to follower, followers, or
sliding blocks, and by repeating this operation the stroke may be increased to any
length.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention and
modes of carrying the same into effect, I declare that I claim,-
First. The reciprocating toggle arms a in combination with the stepped wing
pieces d and the stepped follower or platten v, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 to 5.
Second. The reciprocating toggle arms a, a', in combination with sliding blocks b,
stepped wing pieces d, winding barrel f, and clutch g, for giving the stepped
platten v the required varied speed motion, substantially as set forth with reference
to Figures 1 to 5.
Third. The reciprocating toggle arms a, a, in combination with the sliding
heads e and e¹ connected thereto, and with the nut wheels b and b₁ on a pressing
screw d, the said nut wheels being revolved alternately by the toothed sector
wheels b, b, having cams gearing with star wheels y, substantially as described
with reference to Figures 6 to 9.
Fourth. The reciprocating toggle arms a in combination with the sliding head e
connected thereto, and with the nut wheels b, b', on a pressing screw d, the said

page_text: nut wheels being revolved by the sector wheels b³, 63, having cams gearing with
star wheels y, substantially as described with reference to Figures 14 and 15, and
16 and 17.
Fifth. The cam gearing with the star wheel y in combination with the sector
pinions 6, 6, and with the nut wheels band b¹ on a pressing screw d,
substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The reciprocating toggle arms a, a, in combination with the sliding
heads e, e', connected thereto, and the nut wheels b and b' on the pressing screw d,
the said wheels being revolved alternately by the toothed sector wheels b² and b³,
having cams gearing with star wheels y, and in combination with the chain
wheels, t,, and clutch g, for giving the screw & the required varied speed
motion, substantially as described with reference to Figures 6 to 9.
Seventh. The reciprocating toggle arms a, a', in combination with the sliding
head e connected thereto, and with the nut wheels b, b', on a pressing screw d, the
said nut wheels being revolved alternately by the tooth sector wheels b², b³, having
cams gearing with star wheels y, and in combination with the clutches g, M, M³,
and pulleys q, q, so as to give the screw d the required varied speed motion,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 14 and 15.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marshall Stonehouse, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty third day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
AMAWATIAH