A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF OPERATING STEAM OR HYDRAULIC PRESSES to be as follows:
Year: 1885

page_text: Presses.
I, RICHARD GEE of Newhay Road, Oakes near Huddersfield, Yorkshire Engine
Tenter do hereby declare the nature of my invention for " A NEW OR IMPROVED
METHOD OF OPERATING STEAM OR HYDRAULIC PRESSES to be as follows:-
=
"
This invention relates to a new or improved method of and apparatus for raising
and lowering the table of presses, whether employed for pressing cloth or for
baleing goods, or other purposes.
When steam has been employed to operate presses for pressing cloth, the said
steam after having done its work, is allowed to escape, consequently it is wasted;
and as a considerable and continuous quantity is required to keep the press
working, the cost of working such machines in a week's time is considerable; the
valves and other connections also soon wear away by the action of the steam, thus
adding to the cost thereof.
When such presses are operated by hydraulic pressure, the cost and wear and
tear are also considerable, as the water-like the steam-is discharged after each
lift of the ram, and thereby wasted.
I propose to operate these presses by water and in such a manner as to use
the same water, over and over again, thus avoiding waste of water as above
complained of.
In order to carry out my invention I prefer to employ a rotary shaft, placed near
to the press, such shaft receiving motion from any source, as is found most con-
venient. On this shaft I fix a worm, gearing with a wheel fixed onto a short
shaft, on which shaft is also keyed or otherwise secured a cam, such cam working
between two small runners fixed to the upper end of a valve spindle for operating
a double valve, as the cam rotates it both raises the valve spindle and lowers it,
thereby opening and closing the said valves. This double valve is connected by a
short pipe to a box underneath the pressing table, into which box fits a tube
attached at its upper end to the underside of the table.
The inlet valve is connected by a pipe to an inverted pump having a dead-
weight attached to the water-tight shell which surrounds it, and which is capable
of rising and falling by the admission of water thereto, or by being withdrawn
therefrom. This inverted pump is supplied with water from a cistern by means of

page_text: an ordinary pump, and as the hollow shell of the inverted pump becomes full of
water it is gradually raised until it reaches the required altitude.
As the cam previously mentioned revolves, it gradually raises the valve spindle
and opens the inlet valve, the dead weight on the inverted pump instantaneously
forcing the water through the pipe and valve to the ram box underneath the table,
the pressure of such water therein lifting the ram to the desired height, where by
means of the peculiar shape of the cam it is allowed to remain for a few moments,
when it is lowered by the descent of the valve spindle which closes the inlet valve,
allowing the water to escape at the outlet valve, from which it is conveyed back
by pipes to the cistern.
The application of a dead weight to raise the table of presses, dispenses with the
necessity of employing a steam engine or other motive power for that purpose, as
the shaft which is the only part requiring motion may be driven from any con-
venient source; there are fewer connections liable to get .out of order, and the
wear and tear of valves is reduced to a minimum; the apparatus is simple,
effective and self-acting.
By the adoption of the means herein set forth a great saving is effected, as when
once applied, there is no expense in keeping it working, and the same quantity of
water being re-used prevents any unnecessary waste.
Dated this 94th dow of Nowamhan 1002

page_text: NOW OF improved method of Operating Steam or Hydraulic
Presses:
I, RICHARD GEE, of Newhay Road, Oakes; near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Engine
Tenter, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
METHOD OF OPERATING STEAM OR HYDRAULIC PRESSES," and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention relates to a new or improved method of and apparatus for
raising and lowering the table of presses whether employed for pressing cloth or
for baleing goods, or other purposes.
When steam has been employed to operate presses for pressing cloth, the said
steam after having done its work is allowed to escape; and as a considerable and
continuous quantity of steam is required to keep, the press working; the cost of
working such machines in a week's time is considerable; the valves and other
connections also soon wear away by the action of the steam, thus adding to the
cost thereof. When such presses are operated by hydraulic pressure, the cost
and wear and tear are also considerable according to present arrangement, as the
water-like the steam is discharged after each lift of the ram and thereby
wasted.
D is
I propose to operate these presses by water, and in such a manner as to use the
same water over and over again, thus avoiding waste of water as mentioned above.
Such being the nature and object of my invention I will now proceed to describe
the same more fully, and for that purpose have annexed the accompanying sheet of
drawings illustrative thereof. A represents the framework of a cloth pressing
machine, B the table, and C the ram, all arranged in the ordinary manner.
the main driving shaft on which is fixed suitable gearing and also a bevil wheel
for driving bevil wheel E, fixed to the cross shaft F, carrying worm G for giving
motion to worm wheel H, double cam I, and eccentric J, keyed or otherwise
fastened to another shaft K. a is a double valve opened and closed by the valve
spindle b, operated backward and forward by link c, connected to lever d, which
lever is operated in one direction by cams I, and in the other direction by rod and
weight L. e is another valve, the spindle f of which is operated so as to open the
said valve by means of eccentric J, acting against the bowl g on the end of the
valve spindle f, whilst a spiral spring h operates the spindle in the opposite
direction and closes the valve.
M is a pump piston working within the tube N, the upper part of which piston
carries a dead weight O, for purposes hereinafter explained.
Water is supplied to the pump M by another or double acting pump P, which
draws it from a cistern placed in any suitable position, through the pipe R, and
through pipes S, which water raises the piston M to any required altitude, when
the cam I opens the valve a, allowing the dead weight O to descend, which forces
the water within the pump back through the pipes S and T, into the inlet valve a,
and down pipe U, entering into the top of a box or chamber formed within the
ram C, the effect of which is to force up the ram C by the pressure of water, and

page_text: the cloth or bale, or other material upon the table is forced or pressed against the
stationary roof W, where it receives the necessary squeeze, by which time the
elevated part of the cam I will have set the lever d at liberty, consequently
the weight L will operate the lever and link c, in such manner as to close the
inlet valve a but open the outlet valve a¹, when the ram will descend and force
the water back again into the cistern, ready to be reused, and this takes place after
each operation, consequently there is a great saving in the quantity of water
employed.
The action of the machine is as follows:
When commencing to press goods the eccentric J first opens the valve e, and
water is let down the pipe V from a cistern, and down the pipe X into a space Z,
formed under the bottom of the ram C, and the bottom of the ram shell. When
this is done the cam I, which has two lifts i and i, is so timed that the valve a is
opened by the lift i, and sufficient water let in as to raise the table until the cloth
touches the roof W, but the second lift , lifts the ram to its highest point, so as to
put the required pressure upon the cloth, after which the lever d is set at liberty
and the weight L closes the inlet and opens the outlet valve, so that the descent of
the ram causes the water to return to the pump M, and this is repeated as often as
is required.
The application of the dead weight O to raise the table of presses, dispenses
with the necessity of employing a steam engine or other motive power for that
purpose, as the shaft which is the only part requiring motion may be driven from
any convenient source, there are fewer connections liable to get out of order, and
the wear and tear of valves is reduced to a minimum, the apparatus is simple,
effective, and self-acting.
By the adoption of the means herein set forth a great saving is effected, as when
once applied there is no expense in keeping it working, and the same quantity of
water being reused prevents any unnecessary waste.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
Firstly. The employment of water under pressure by means of a dead weight
for operating the ram and table of cloth pressing machines, in manner substantially
as herein set forth.
Secondly. The use and employment of the double valves a and a' for purposes
herein set forth.