Improvements in Hydraulic Rams.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Rams.
I, GEORGE HICKS HARRIS, of Alderplot, St. Breock, Wadebridge, in the County
of Cornwall, Hydraulic and Milling Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows': -
My invention consists primarily of novel combinations and arrangements of
parts of hydraulic rams whereby the action is of a reciprocating character and the
waste or overflow water, after having done duty in the ram, is utilized to make the
action of the valves sensitive or more certain, or otherwise to make the work of
the machine or ram more efficient.
According to my invention I employ two or more beat valves and two or more
retaining valves; the beat valves are connected together in such way as to equalize
each other, and they may be arranged either horizontally or vertically. The said
beat valves are suspended by springs which are adjustable or made variable in
length to suit the speed of the machine or ram or the throw of the beat valves.
In a double horizontally arranged machine, the horizontal bar carrying the beat
valves is first actuated by the beat of a suspended bar or pendulum, such beat being
regulated by the length of said bar or pendulum, thus giving motion to the valve
preparatory to that given by the impulse of the drive water; the pendulum is
actuated by the overflow or waste water. Or the machine or ram may be provided
with floats or fan-pieces secured directly to the valve spindle, bar or spring carrying
the valve, the outflow or waste water acting directly on the same after escaping
from the machine.
The double machine has two drive pipes, one for each set of valves, two retaining
valves each opening into an air vessel, and two beat valves, one at each end of a
horizontal suspended bar, and a pendulum provided with floats or plates to receive
the outflow water from valve escape to actuate the same, and with springs to act
against adjustable studs or projections on the horizontal valve bar.
My invention is also applicable to machines or rams in which the valves are
arranged vertically, and single as well as double machines will be improved thereby.
Dated this 13th day of Mov 1807

page_text: manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My invention consists primarily of novel combinations and arrangements of parts
of hydraulic rams whereby the action is of a reciprocating character and the waste
or outflow water after having done duty in the ram is utilized to make the action of
the valves sensitive or more certain or otherwise to make the work of the machine
or ram efficient.
My invention is represented in the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1
and 2 are vertical sections drawn at right angles with each other of one form of my
improved hydraulic ram in which the valves reciprocate in a horizontal direction
and Figures 3 and 4 are similar views of another form of my improved hydraulic
ram in which the valve or valves reciprocate in a vertical direction. In all the
figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
I will first describe the arrangement represented at Figures 1 and 2.
According to my invention I employ two or more beat or waste valves a and two
or more retaining valves b. Figures 1 and 2 represent an arrangement in which
two of each of such valves are employed. The beat or waste valves a are connected
together in such way as to equalize each other and they are arranged horizontally.
Such valves a are fixed one to each end of the horizontal bar a which latter is
suspended by springs c from a standard fixed to the bed d of the ram; these
springs will be made of length to suit the speed of the machine or ram or the throw
of the beat or waste valves a.
The horizontal bar al carrying the beat or waste valves a is first actuated by the
beat of a suspended bar or pendulum e, such beat being regulated by the length of
said bar or pendulum, thus giving motion to the waste valves a preparatory to that
given by the impulse of the drive water; the pendulum e is actuated by the out-
flow or waste water which on issuing from the ports f f is guided by the guides g, g
on to the plates or floats el el adjustably fixed to the pendulum e. Or floats or fan
pieces e shown by dotted lines may be secured directly to the horizontal bar a¹ or.
to the springs carrying such bar a¹ and waste valves a, in which case the outflow or
waste water will act directly on the same after escaping from the machine by the
ports f, f and will then be directed down to the floats e¹.
The machine shown in Figures 1 and 2 has two drive pipes h and two retaining
valves each opening into an air vessel the pendulum e is provided with
springs to act against studs or projections a² adjustably fixed on the bar a¹ in
order to avoid undue shock in the action of the apparatus.
The action of the ram is similar to that of the well known automatic hydraulic
ram except that in consequence of the parts (drive pipe, waste valve and retaining
valve) being duplicated and the waste valves being connected to the same bar and
reciprocated by a pendulum aided by the action of the waste water, one waste valve
opens while the other is being shut and the action of the waste valves is regulated
and rendered sensitive.
The air vessels i have their outlets connected by pipes to a common delivery
pipe j.
It will be evident that where a large volume of water is used more than one waste
valve a may be carried at each end of the bar a¹, the apparatus in other respects
being similar to that above described.
My invention is also applicable to machines or rams in which the valves a
are arranged vertically as represented at Figures 3 and 4; in this case the valves a
have their rods a mounted in guides and are suspended from the outer ends of
rocking levers which latter are actuated by adjustable studs et on arms eo of a
pendulum e and the waste water is directed on to the floats e¹ of the pendulum e
by guides g* in a somewhat similar manner to that described with respect to
Figures 1 and 2.
In Figures 3 and 4 the apparatus at one side only of the machine or ram is shown,
the other side is arranged in a similar manner.
I would also remark that the invention is also applicable to single valve machines

page_text: or rams, in which case the arrangement would be similar to either of those above
described except that the valve or valves at one side of the machine or ram would
be dispensed with.
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 :-
i. In hydraulic rams the combination of two drive pipes, an air vessel on each
of said pipes, a retaining valve at the inlet to each of said air vessels, and a beat or
waste valve at the outlet end of each drive pipe, said waste valves being connected
together and operated simultaneously so that as one is opening the other is closing,
substantially as herein set forth.
2. In hydraulic rams the combination of two or more drive pipes, an air vessel
on each of said pipes, a retaining valve to each air vessel, a waste valve to each drive
pipe, a bar carrying said waste valves, springs carrying said waste valve bar, and
a pendulum acting to start the waste valves and receiving its impetus from the
waste water, substantially as herein set forth.
3. In hydraulic rams the combination of two drive pipes, two air vessels, two
retaining valves, two waste valves carried by a bar, a pendulum acting on the
waste valve bar, springs on said pendulum, adjustable studs on the waste valve
bar on which said springs act and means for causing the waste water to give impetus
to said pendulum, substantially as herein set forth.
4. In hydraulic rams the combination with two drive pipes, two air vessels and
two retaining valves, of two waste valves connected together and a pendulum
operating the same and receiving its impulse from the waste water, substantially
as herein set forth.
5. In hydraulic rams the combination with a waste valve of a pendulum to
operate and regulate the same and means for directing the waste water on to such
pendulum to give impulse thereto, substantially as herein set forth.
6. In hydraulic rams the combination and arrangements of parts substantially as
herein set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated February 11th 1898.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.