Improvements in and in the Method of Working Lifts, Cranes, and other Analogous Apparatus Operated by Fluid Press
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in the Method of Working Lifts, Cranes, and
other Analogous Apparatus Operated by Fluid Pressure
I, JOHN STURGEON. of No 6, Lincoln's Inn, Corporation Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows.
My invention has for its object "Improvements in the Method of Working Hydraulic
Lifts, Cranes, and other Apparatus "
Heretofore in working hydraulic machines of this class the water has been generally
supplied from some external source at a pressure due to the height of the reservoir
from which the supply is taken, or the requisite pressure obtained by pumping into
accumulators. Hence the pressure applied and the power expended have been always
the same whether the useful work done be much oi little. Moreover, the spent water
had to be discharged, after every stroke, into some pipe or drain, or returned to the
accumulators through another main, at considerable cost, especially in the case of
hotel lifts and hydraulic machines worked from a public water supply
According to my invention 1 apply to the hydraulic lift or other apparatus to which
my invention may be applicable, a closed tank or vessel of sufficient size to contain
the whole of the water required to fill the working cylinder, as well as a small reserve
over In order to move the ram forward, I admit compressed-air from a main,
(which is kept charged by means of an air-compressing engine)-upon the surface of
the water in the tank or vessel, which forces the water out of the tank into the ram
cylinder, thus applying to the ram a water pressure the same as that of the compressed-
air, which can be varied to suit the load by means of a valve or tap. To bring back
the ram I open a tap on the top of the tank or vessel, which allows the air to blow off
and the water to return into the tank as the ram descends by its weight. To hold the
ram in any required position I apply a tap or valve between the tank and the ram
cylinder, by which the water can be locked into the cylinder By these means I am
enabled to apply a varying pressure adapted to the varying load, by the elastic force
of the compressed-air, while at the same time affording to the ram the solid support of
the water and the same water is used over and over again, the air alone being blown
off at its terminal pressure corresponding to the load overcome.
1 further so arrange or connect together the valve or valves for controlling the
admission and discharge of the water and air that they may open and close in proper
rotation the ports leading respectively to and from the tank, the ram cylinder, the
compressed-air supply and the exhaust air outlet This may be done either with a
single valve containing the requisite ports and compartments, or by separate valves
geared together so as to open and close in proper consecutive order.
In applying my invention to a hotel or warehouse lift or twist with vertical
hydraulic ram and cylinder sunk in the ground, I construct the tank of annular form
surrounding the upper part of the cylinder, and I arrange the working valves on the
top thereof so as to be worked by rods or ropes passing through the cage, where they
can be worked by the attendant
In some cases, where it is desirable to avoid a deep pit for the ram cylinder, and
where plenty of bead room is available, I apply a fixed ram and moving cylinder to
which the cage is attached, surrounding the cylinder,-or two or more rams and
cylinders so arranged as to leave the middle of the cage clear Or I employ two or
more fixed cylinders with their rams passing upwards, and connected by a crosshead
from which the cage is suspended.
In applying my invention to hydraulic cranes, I utilize the crane post or bed plate

page_text: as the tank. In moveable cranes the balance weight may be utilized as the tank,
being caused to travel outwards from the centre in proportion as the weight diminishes
by the displacement of the water.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in the Method of Working Lifts, Cranes, and
other Analogous Apparatus Operated by Fluid Pressure
I, JOHN STURGEON, of No 6, Lincoln's Inn, Corporation Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement
My Invention has for its object to provide Improvements in the Method of Working
Lafts, Cranes, and other Analagous Apparatus.
Heretofore in working hydraulic machines of this class the water has been generally
supplied from some external source at a pressure due to the height of the reservoir from
which the supply is taken, or the requisite pressure has been obtained by pumping
in conjunction with accumulators Hence the pressure applied, and the power
expended, have been always the same, whether the useful work done be much or
little. Moreover, the spent water in most cases had to be discharged, after every
stroke, into some pipe or drain, or returned to the accumulators through another main,
at considerable cost; and this cost was especially high in the case of hotel lifts and
hydraulic machines worked from a public water supply or service.
According to my Invention, I apply to the lifts or other apparatus, to which my
invention may be applicable, a closed tank or vessel of sufficient size to contain the
whole of the water required to fill the working cylinder, as well as a small reserve
volume
To press the rain upwards, I employ compressed air and introduce it into the tank or
vessel, from a main (which is kept charged by means of an air compressing engine),
such air being adapted to press upon the surface of the water and thereby force the
water out of the tank into the ram cylinder, thus applying to the ram-water, a
pressure, the same as that of the compressed air in the tank; and this can be, and is,
varied to suit the load, by means of a controlling valve or tap. To bring back the
ram, the air in the tanks is released by a valve or tap on the upper part thereof, and
the water is caused to flow back into the tank as the ram descends by its weight
hold the ram in any required position; I apply a valve or tap between the tank and
the ram cylinder, by which the water can be locked in the cylinder
To
By these means I am enabled to apply a varying pressure adapted to a varying
load, by the elastic force of the compressed air, while at the same time affording to
the ram the solid support of the water, also the same water is used over and over
again, the air alone being blown off at its terminal pressure, and this corresponds with
the load overcome
I further so arrange or connect together the valve or valves for controlling the
admission and discharge of the water and air, that they may open and close, in proper
rotation, the ports leading respectively to and from the tank, the ram cylinder, the
compressed air supply, and the exhaust air outlet. This may be done either with a
single valve containing the requisite parts and compartments, or by separate valves
geared together so as to open and close in proper consecutive order.
In applying my Invention to a hotel, or warehouse lift or boist, with a vertical ram
and cylinder sunk in the ground, I construct the tank of annular form surrounding
the upper part of the cylinder, and I arrange the working valves on the top thereof sc
as to be worked by rods or ropes passing through the cage where they can be worked
by the attendant. The tank however, may be of any other suitable form, or placed in
any other convenient position.

page_text: In some cases where it is desirable to avoid a deep pit for the ram cylinder, and
where plenty of head room is available, I apply a fix d ram and moving cylinder to
which the cage is attached surrounding the cylinder, or two or more rams and
cylinders so arranged as to leave the middle of the cage clear Or I employ two or
more hxed cylinders with their ams passing upwards, and connected by a crosshead
from which the cage is suspended.
In applying my Invention to cranes, I utilize the crane post or base plate as the
tank. In movable cranes the balance weight may be utilized as the tank, being
caused to travel outwards from the centre in proportion as the weight diminishes by
the displacement of the water
The above description sets forth generally the nature, object, and purposes of my
invention, but to make the same more clear I will now proceed to describe it with the
aid of the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof. The
drawings together with the following descriptions of them, set 1orth one example of
lift with the improvements according to iny Invention applied thereto
With reference to the drawing (which illustrates an hotel, warehouse or like lift, or
hoist, in part sectional elevation), a designates the cage, which may be of ordinary
construction: b are balance weights connected to the cage a by chains b, c is the
well in which the cage a and weights 6 work, e is the cylinder; d is the ram thereof,
the head of which supports the cage a, said cylinder and ram being sunk in the
ground in the usual way The above parts and their arrangement is a common one
and form no part in this invention in themselves, but the parts and their operation
which I now describe do involve the novel features of my invention
These consist mainly of a closed tank or vosself of sufficient capacity to contain the
whole of the water or other liquid required to work the cylinder e (that is a volume
sufficient to fill the cylinder e together with a small reserve over), an air controlling
valve, and a liquid controlling valve l.
In the example illustrated, the tank fis arranged at the top of and surrounding the
cylinder e, and compressed air is admitted to it through the air inlet port g, controlled
by the valve h, the air being led to such valve by a compressed air supply pipe t, and
emitted through an exhaust port gl. This valve may be an ordinary plug type,
provided with a port or ports in any known way, so as to admit air to, or allow it to
escape from, the tank f, or close both admission and exhaust ports, and so cut off
communication altogether with the interior of the tank it (the valve) being worked
by means of a lever hand a rod or line ³, which passes through the cage in the
usual way
As already stated, the water or other liquid service between the tank f and the
cylinder is controlled by the valve 1, the port m connecting the valve and cylinder,
and the port and pipe connecting the tank and the valve The pipe n, it will be seen,
extends or dips to near the bottom of the tank
valve his worked by a lever and a rod or line, which passes
in the usual way The valve may be of the same type as
described and adapted to open communication between the tank
or brake it.
The valve in like manner to the
through the cage a
the valve above
and the cylinder e,
To work the apparatus illustrated, that is to move the ram d and cage a upwards,
compressed air is admitted to the tank from the supply pipe by opening the
valve h. The air so admitted presses upon the surface of the liquid in the tank, and
the valve being open, it causes it to flow up the pipe n, through the valve and
port m to the cylinder e, and thus there is applied to the ram da pressure, the same
as that of the compressed air supplied to the tank f: such pressure being so controlled,
by means of the valve h, to suit the load; that is to say, as the load varies, so varying
quantities of air are admitted to the tank and a greater or less pressure exerted upon
the liquid therein. To cause the ram d and cage a to descend, the valve his operated
so as to allow the air to escape from the tank by way of the ports g and g¹, and the
liquid to return from the cylinder e to the tank f, the actual descent being made by
the apparatus' own weight To hold the ram d in any required position, the valve / is
simply closed and the liquid locked in the cylinder e.

page_text: By the above means I am enabled to apply a varying pressure adapted to the
varying load, by the elastic force of the compressed air, while at the same time
affording to the ram d the solid support of the water or other liquid, also the same
liquid is used over and over again, the air alone being blown off at its terminal
pressure corresponding to the load overcome
In conclusion I wish to point out that the Invention is not confined to the
particular kind of apparatus herein specified, for instance the improvements herein
described, and hereinafter claimed, may be employed in connection with hauling and
moving matters or materials in cases where the apparatus used consists of rams or
pistons and cylinders, and also the form or construction of cranes, lifts or apparatus
is not confined to these particularly mentioned, as the invention is susceptible of being
applied to any known suitable kind of ram or piston and cylinder raising, lowering, or
hauling machinery
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
claim is
1. In lifts and other analogous systems and apparatus, the employment in
combination of compressed air and water or other suitable liquid; for the purposes
described
2. The herein described method of working lifts, cranes, or other analogous
apparatus, consisting in the employment of compressed air as the motor fluid, and
causing such fluid to act and press upon a liquid interposed between the ram or
piston of such lift, crane, or other apparatus, and such air; for the purposes set
forth
3. In a lift, crane, or analogous apparatus, operating the ram or piston thereof by
compressed air, and water or other suitable liquid, such liquid heing contained in and
filling the cylinder of the hoist, lift, elevator, or crane and the air being adapted
to act and press upon the liquid in a separate vessel or tank.
4. The herein described method of working lifts, cranes, and analogous apparatus,
consisting in employing compressed air as the motor fluid, and employing water or
other suitable liquid between the air and the ram or piston of the apparatus, and
causing the air to act and press upon the liquid in the elevating stroke of the ram or
piston and force the liquid into the cylinder of the apparatus, and then causing such
liquid to be forced back into the vessel or chamber from which it was forced, by and
in the return stroke of the ram or piston, whereby the same liquid is used
repeatedly
5. In working lifts, cranes, or other analogous apparatus,-of-the-kind-herein-referred
to, controlling the supply of air to, and exit from, a vessel or tank, in which the water
used in the apparatus is contained, by a valve or valves by which the pressure exerted
on the liquid is caused to vary as the load, substantially as set forth.
6 In lifts, cranes, or analogous apparatus, the combination of parts berein set forth,
that is to say, the combination with the cylinder of the apparatus, of a tank or vessel
adapted to hold water or other liquid, and provided with a valve or valves by which
air is admitted thereto from a compressed air service, and emitted therefrom, and the
flow of water or other liquid to and from it and the cylinder controlled, also said
parts combined and arranged and set forth with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 5th day of th
1900
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.