IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES USED FOR PRESSING COTTON. WOOL, HAY, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS.”
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ashcroft, of Alexandria, Egypt, but at
present of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES
USED FOR PRESSING COTTON. WOOL, HAY, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ashcroft at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th May 1873.
I, GEORGE ASHCROFT, of Alexandria, Egypt, but at present of 15,
Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDRAULIC PRESSES USED FOR PRESSING COTTON, WOOL, HAY, AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to constructing hydraulic presses for com-
pressing and baling cotton, wool, hay, and other fibrous materials, so that
the compression of the material is done in two distinct operations,
namely, the early part of the pressure is performed by one long cylinder

page_text: and ram at a comparatively low pressure; the final pressure for the
completion or finishing of the compression being performed by one,
two, four, or more cylinders and rams, with a comparatively short
stroke.
This Invention further relates to improvements in the boxes used in
connection with hydraulic and other presses, so that greater facilities
are given for filling the said boxes with the material to be pressed, and
consists in improvements on the swinging boxes in connection with
hydraulic presses for which Letters Patent were granted to me dated
24th day of May 1865, and numbered 1423.
An hydraulic press constructed according to my Invention consists of
two bed plates or castings placed side by side and one in position above
the other. The lower bed plate carries one long hydraulic cylinder
and ram fitted with a suitable follower. This cylinder and ram is
situated immediately under a long packing box or casing, which box or
casing is fixed and supported to suitable columns. The box is of length
sufficient to take the whole stroke of the ram of the hydraulic cylinder.
The second or raised bed plate carries one, two, three, four, or more
hydraulic cylinders of comparatively short stroke. These cylinders are
fitted with rams and a follower, and are of sufficient stroke to finish
compressing the material. The bed plates are fitted with vertical
columns which support a suitable top frame, which top frame or head
piece extends over both bed plates. The centre column is made stronger
than the outside columns and is fitted with suitable swinging collars or
bearings which are provided with projections upon which are bolted
what I term the finishing boxes. These boxes are made to revolve or
swing so that they may come over the long packing box before mentioned
and the long cylinder and ram in connection therewith for the purpose
of packing and commencing the compression, and then swing into
position over the short stroke cylinders and their attendant follower
for the final operation of completing the compression. These finishing
boxes are respectively fitted with a hinged cover and doors, so that the
cover can be opened for the purpose of filling the boxes, and the doors
opened for the purpose of removing the material when compressed into
bales. The swinging finishing boxes are fitted with locking apparatus
worked by a lever or its mechanical equivalent, so that the usual
following plate can be locked underneath the material in the swinging
boxes for the purpose of banding. The hinged cover is also fitted with

page_text: a suitable bolting or locking arrangement so that the box can swing
round with the compressed material therein.
The operation of compressing fibrous material by my improved press
consists in first adjusting the swinging or finishing boxes, so that one of
them is directly over the long packing box herein-before described. The
cover of the swinging box is then opened and the material packed into
the double box, namely, the long packing box and the short swinging
box immediately over it.
When the double box is filled the cover of the swinging box is
replaced by swinging and being bolted under the head frame of the
press. The long cylinder and ram is then put into operation having in
the usual manner a loose following plate grooved to receive the bands.
The long ram compresses the fibrous material in the long box or packing
case with sufficient pressure to compress the contents of both boxes
into the upper or swinging box. The following plate is then locked in
position and forms a bottom to the swinging box containing the material
compressed by the long cylinder. Upon the pressure from the long
cylinder being removed the upper box is then swung round until it
comes in position immediately over the follower of the short stroke
cylinders used for the final compression. The short stroke cylinders being
put into action the material is compressed into the required density, baled
and banded in the usual way. In the meantime the duplicate swinging
box has taken its place over the long packing box and the operation.
of filling and early pressure commenced.
The action of the swinging boxes being precisely the same as that
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me on 24th
day of May 1865, numbered 1423, with the exception that the boxes
are reduced to a minimum size, and the early compression is taking
place in one box while the final compression is being done in the
other box.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
35 ASHCROFT, of Alexandria, Egypt, but at present of 15, Water Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Ashcroft, Her special licence that I,
the said George Ashcroft, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said George Ashcroft, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES
USED FOR PRESSING COTTON, WOOL, HAY, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS,” upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Ashcroft, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Ashcroft, 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 :—
This Invention relates to constructing hydraulic presses for com-
pressing and baling cotton, wool, hay, and other fibrous materials, so
that the compression of the material is done in two distinct operations,
namely, the early part of the pressure is performed by one long cylinder
and ram at a comparatively low pressure, the final pressure for tho
completion or finishing of the compression being performed by one,
two, four, or more cylinders and rams with a comparatively short
stroke.
This Invention further relates to improvements in the boxes used in
connection with hydraulic and other presses, so that greater facilities
are given for filling the said boxes with the material to be pressed, and
consists in improvements on the swinging boxes in connection with
hydraulic presses for which Letters Patent were granted to me dated
24th May 1865, and numbered 1423.

page_text: An hydraulic press constructed according to my Invention consists of
two bed plates or castings placed side by side and one in position above
the other. The lower bed plate carries one long hydraulic cylinder and
ram fitted with a suitable follower. This cylinder and ram is situated
immediately under a long packing box or casing, which box or casing
is fixed and supported to suitable columns. The box is of length
sufficient to take the whole stroke of the ram of the hydraulic cylinder.
The second or raised bed plate carries one, two, three, four, or more
hydraulic cylinders of comparatively short stroke. These cylinders arc
fitted with rams and a follower, and arc of sufficient stroke to finish
compressing the material. The bed plates are fitted with vertical
columns which support a suitable top frame, which top frame or head
piece extends over both bed plates. The centre column is made stronger
than the outside columns and is fitted with suitable swinging collars or
bearings which are provided with projections, upon which are bolted
what I term finishing boxes. These boxes are made to revolve or swing
so that they may come over the long packing box before mentioned and
the long cylinder and ram in connexion therewith for the purpose of
packing and commencing the compression, and then swing into position
over the short stroke cylinders and their attendant follower for the final
operation of completing the compression. These finishing boxes are
respectively fitted with a hinged or sliding cover and doors, so that the
cover can be opened for the purpose of filling the boxes, and the doors
opened for the purpose of removing the material when compressed and
banded into bales. The swinging finishing boxes are fitted with locking
apparatus worked by a lever or its mechanical equivalent, so that the
usual following plate can be locked underneath the material in the
swinging boxes for the purpose of banding. The hinged or sliding cover
is also fitted with a suitable bolting or locking apparatus, so that the
box can swing round with the compressed material therein.
The operation of compressing fibrous material by my improved press
consists in first adjusting the swinging or finishing boxes, so that one of
them is directly over the long packing box herein-before described. The
cover of the swinging box is then opened and the material packed into
the double box, namely, the long packing box and the short swinging
box immediately over it.
When the double box is filled the cover of the swinging box is
replaced and being bolted under the head frame of the press. The long

page_text: cylinder and ram is then put into operation, having in the usual manner
a loose following plate grooved to receive the bands. The long ram
compresses the fibrous material in the long box or packing case with
sufficient pressure to compress the contents of both boxes into the upper
or swinging box. The following plate is then locked in position and
forms a bottom to the swinging box containing the material compressed
by the long cylinder and ram. Upon the pressure from the long
cylinder being removed the upper box is swung round until it comes in
position immediately over the follower of the short stroke cylinders and
rams used for the final compression. The short stroke cylinders and
rams being put into action the material is compressed into the required
density and baled and banded in the usual way. In the meantime the
duplicate swinging box has taken its place over the long packing box
and the operation of filling and early pressure commenced.
The action of the swinging boxes being precisely the same as that
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me on the
24th May 1865, and numbered 1423, with the exception that the boxes
are reduced to a minimum size and the carly compression is taking
place in one box while the final compression is being done in the
other box.
The beforegoing being the nature, object, and purposes of this my
Invention, I will now proceed to describe more in detail how the same
may be carried into practical effect, and for that purpose I have hereunto
attached a Sheet of Drawings marked with figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those in the following explanation:
-
Upon reference to the Drawing it will be seen that Figure 1 is a side
elevation of an hydraulic press constructed according to this Invention,
which consists of two bed plates or castings A and B placed side by side
and in position one above the other. The lower bed plate A carries one
long hydraulic cylinder and ram C fitted with a suitable follower D.
The cylinder and ram C are situated immediately under a long packing
box or casing E, which box or casing E is fixed to and supported by the
columns F, F, and G. The box E is of length sufficient to take the
whole stroke of the ram of the hydraulic cylinder C. The second or
raised bed plate B carries one, two, three, four, or more hydraulic
cylinders H and H¹ of comparatively short stroke. The cylinders H
arç fitted with rams I, I', and a follower J, and are of sufficient stroke

page_text: to finish compressing the material as will be herein-after explained. The
bed plates A and B are fitted with vertical columns F, F, G, and K,
and K', which support a suitable top frame L, which top frame or head
piece has extending wings or girders M over the bed plate A. The
centre column G is made stronger than the outside columns, and is
fitted with suitable collars or bearings N, O, which are provided with
projections upon which are bolted what I term the finishing boxes P, R.
The boxes P, R, are made to revolve or swing so that they may come
over the long packing box E and the long cylinder and ram C for the
purpose of packing and commencing the compression, and then swing into
position over the short stroke cylinders H, H', and their attendant follower
J, for the purpose of completing the compression. These finishing
boxes P and R are respectively fitted with covers S, T, which may be
made to swing round the column G, or hinged to the boxes, or made to
slide as may be found convenient. These covers are fitted with the
usual slots to receive the banding as is understood. The finishing boxes
P and R are respectively fitted with doors for the purpose of removing
the material when compressed and banded into bales as is now practised.
The swinging finishing boxes P and R are also fitted with suitable
mechanical locking apparatus so that the usual following plate can be
locked and form a bottom to the boxes while swinging and during the
process of banding. The covers S and T are also fitted with suitable
mechanical locking apparatus so that they form covers to the boxes
while swinging with the compressed material therein. U is the floor
upon which the packing or operation of filling the boxes P and E takes
place, or the boxes R and E as the case may be. They are filled
through the aperture V between the wings or girders M of the head
piece L; X and Y are locking apparatus to keep the swinging boxes in
position over the respective hydraulic cylinders, rams, and followers; Z
are hydraulic pipes leading from suitable pumping apparatus to the
hydraulic cylinders.
The operation of compressing fibrous material by my improved press
consists in first adjusting the swinging or finishing boxes P and R so

page_text: When the double box P, E, is filled, the cover S of the swinging
box P is replaced and being fixed under the wings or girders M, the
long cylinder and ram C is then put into operation having in the usual
manner a loose following plate grooved to receive the bands on the top
of the follower D. The long ram C compresses the fibrous material in
the box E with sufficient pressure to compress the contents of both
boxes E, P, into the upper or swinging box P; the loose following plate
is then locked in position and forms a bottom to the swinging box P,
which contains the material compressed by the long cylinder and ram C.
Upon the pressure being removed the box P is swung round until it
comes in position immediately over the follower J of the short stroke
cylinders H and the rams I which are used for the final compression.
The short stroke cylinders H and rams I being put into action the
material is compressed into the required density and baled and banded
as is well understood. In the meantime the duplicate swinging box R
has come into position over the long packing box E, and the operation
of filling and early pressure commenced, the action of the swinging
boxes being precisely the same as that described in the Specification of
Letters Patent granted to me on the 24th day of May 1865, and
numbered 1423, with the exception that the boxes P and R are reduced
to a minimum size and the early compression and filling in is taking
place in the one box P and the final compression is being done in the
other box R as has been explained.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature, object, and
purposes of this my Invention, and shown how the same may be carried
out into practical effect, I wish it to be clearly understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details and dimensions of the hydraulic
press as shown in the Drawing, but what I claim as my Invention and
secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid is,—
Firstly. The combination and arrangement of the hydraulic cylinder C,
and the hydraulic cylinder or cylinders H with the stationary long packing
box or case E and the swinging boxes P, R, the whole mounted and
carried by suitable framework and constituting an hydraulic press for
compressing cotton and other fibrous materials, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described and set forth.
Secondly. The swinging boxes P and R in connection with the long
packing box E and the cylinders C and H arranged so that the

page_text: commencement or early part of the pressure is performed by the one
long cylinder and ram O at a comparatively low pressure, and the final
pressure for the completion or finishing of the compression is performed
by one, two, four, or more cylinders and rams H, I, with a comparatively
short stroke, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Ashcroft, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH,
of 15, Water Street,
Liverpool.
GEORGE (L.s.) ASHCROFT.