Improvements in Apparatus for Compressing Scrap Metal into Blocks or Slabs.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Compressing Scrap Metal into Blocks
or Slabs.
We, JAMES WOOLLEY SUMMERS of the Globe Iron Works, Stalybridge in the County
of Lancaster, Iron Manufacturer, and TREVELYAN SHARP, employed at the same,
Works, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying drawings:—
Our Invention relates to apparatus adapted to be employed in compressing or con-
densing scrap metal into slabs which can be heated and rolled into plates or bars.
Previously to our invention a machine has been designed for the purpose having four
ram heads arranged to move on horizontal lines toward a common centre in combina-
tion with a fifth ram head arranged to move vertically the compressive movement of
the ram being a rising movement. In our improved machine in its simplest form we
employ four hydraulic rams three acting horizontally and the fourth being arranged
to press downward upon the mass consisting of scrap which has been compressed into
a smaller compass by the three horizontal rains. In our machine the floor of the press
is more firm and solid and is free from slits into which portions of the scrap may fall
and also there is better access for charging the machine and for the removal of the
block of compressed scrap.
In order that our Invention may be clearly understood we will describe the same
more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A
In the said drawings Fig. 1 represents a Front Elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of the
machine. In the said Figs. a. a are two ram cylinders which work in the hydraulic
cylinders A A and move on the same horizontal line toward and from each other.
third ram b works in the hydraulic cylinder B and moves on a horizontal line at right-
The three cylinders A A
angles with the line of movement of the two rams a. a.
and B are firmly mounted and keyed or secured upon and to a strong cast-iron
foundation bed c. The upper surface of this bed forms the floor of the machine and
receives the scrap which is to be operated upon. Each of the rams a. a is provided

page_text: C
with a rectangular head or follower a¹ which slides upon the bed c when the rams are
worked in or out. The third ram b is also provided with a head which corre-
sponds in height with the heads a¹ but is much longer. On the opposite side of the
machine is a strong upright metal wall d which is cast in one piece with the bed
or is firmly bolted keyed or secured to the same as preferred. The vertical face
of this wall is parallel with the vertical face of the head band corresponds in
height with the same. When the heads a slide toward or from each other the
vertical sides which are next to the face of the said wall move in sliding contact
with the face of the said wall or may clear the same to a suitable extent. If pre-
ferred the upper surface of the bed and the faces edges or other parts of the heads
and wall may be planed. It will be seen that when the head 6¹ is pushed close up
to the heads a the three heads the wall d and the bed constitute a rectangular box
which is open at the top. To the bed c are firmly secured four strong columns e
which carry a press crosshead f. Seated in this cross head is a fourth hydraulic
cylinder G in which works a ram h of larger diameter than any of the other three.
The lower end of this ram is provided with a head or follower ¹ which is of about the
same width on the face as each of the two heads a¹. One side of this head moves in
sliding contact with or in close proximity to the wall d as in the cases of the heads a¹.
Suitable pipes and connections are provided for connecting the several ram cylinders
with an accumulator or with hydraulic pumps or with both but it has not been con-
sidered necessary to show such parts in the drawing. A small hydraulic cylinder i
is mounted above the cylinder G and within the said cylinder i is a piston which is
connected by means of a piston rod with the upper end of the ram h. By admitting
hydraulic pressure below the said piston the ram is raised after each operation. In
the example the rams a and b are arranged to be drawn back by means of weights
and chains k. k but if preferred they might be drawn back by hydraulic pressure. In
the cases of any of the rams the ram might have a piston head so that the ram could
be drawn back by admitting the pressure into an annular space on the front of such
piston head. The head of a small ram which works in a cylinder is seated in a
recess in the lower part of the centre of the wall d so that when the ram is with-
drawn into the cylinder the face of the said head is flush with the wall d and
practically constitutes a part of the same. The use of this ram and head will be
explained hereinafter. The machine is intended to be used in manner as follows-
When the parts are in the positions indicated in the drawings the scrap to be com-
pressed is placed upon the bed c within the space which is enclosed on four sides by
the parts ad and with the exception of the two end openings at m. m between the
heads a¹ and the two ends of the head b¹. The said space is filled completely or to a
desirable extent with the scrap. The ram b is then pumped or forced toward the
wall d until it touches or nearly touches the two heads a' and the front edge of the
head thus compressing the scrap into a smaller space. The two rams a¹ are then
forced toward the ends of the head until they are in contact with it or nearly so.
The scrap will then have been compressed into the space indicated by the dotted
rectangle n. The large ram ¹ is then forced down as far as it will go whereby the
mass of scrap is still further compressed and converted into the form of a slab indicated
by n. The rams having been withdrawn the head is forced forward and pushes the
slab from below the head so that the slab can readily be withdrawn through one of
the aforesaid end openings m. The slab may be heated and rolled hammered or
treated to convert it into bars rods or sheets as required. If not considered to be
necessary the parts and may be dispensed with. If preferred the said end open-
ings m. m may be closed by means of vertical walls or of hinged or movable doors
which or one of which might be opened for the removal of the slab or one or each of
the cylinders A might be mounted so that it could be turned out of the way for the
removal of the slab. We may apply two rams to take the place of the ram b especially
in cases wherein the head is comparatively long as in the example. The dotted
lines marked B' B2 indicate such an application of two rams. Also if considered to
be advisable the head or follower might be operated by more than one ram as for
example by two rams. We may substitute a movable head similar to the head b' for

page_text: the fixed wall d and operate such movable head by means of a single ram or of a pair of
rams as in the case of the head b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
(1) The combination of parts constituting a scrap compressing machine formed
arranged and acting substantially as set forth and indicated hereinbefore and in the
accompanying drawings.
(2) In a metal scrap compressing machine the combination of the three horizontal
hydraulic rams and ram heads with a fourth vertically acting ram and head which
is forced downward to give the final pressure substantially as set forth and indicated.
(3) The combination of the two horizontal hydraulic rams a. a the third horizontal
ram the fourth vertical and downward acting ram h the solid surfaced bed c and the
strong vertical wall d substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
(4) In a metal scrap compressing machine the combination of horizontal
hydraulic rams with a vertically acting ram or pair or set of rams substantially as
set forth.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester,
Agents.