IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CON: NECTED WITH HYDRAULIC PRESSES AND PUMPS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thompson Mann, of the Firm of
Fawcett, Preston, and Company, of Liverpool, in the County of
Laucaster, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OR CON:
NECTED WITH HYDRAULIC PRESSES AND PUMPS."-A communication from
abroad by James Watson, of Calcutta.
Sealed the 22nd June 1875, and dated the 23rd December 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thompsoni
Mann at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 23rd December 1874.
I, WILLIAM THOMPSON MANN, of the Firm of Fawcett, Preston, and
Company, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CON-
NECTED WITH HYDRAULIC PRESSES AND PUMPS," to be as follows:-
16
This Invention has reference more particularly to the presses described
in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to James Watson, bearing
date the 28th day of October 1869, No. 3123. The said Specification
described a blocking apparatus composed of a gridiron frame or of a
[Price Sd.]

page_text: solid block made to slide into the press between the upper surface of a
lower "follower" or platform and the under side of the bale of material
under treatment. The gridiron frame or block was moved into and out
of the press at the proper times by means of racks and pinions actuated
by hand wheels.
Now the object of one part of the present Invention is to make the
gridiron frame self acting. For this purpose chains are secured to the
bottom of the lower follower, and after going under or round grooved
rollers pass over grooved wheels. These wheels run loosely on the
pinion shaft of the gridiron frame, but can be made by means of clutches
worked by the attendant to turn the shaft when required; they are pro-
vided with whelps or similar devices to ensure the grip of the chains
thereon. The ends of the chains carry small balance weights to take up
the slack when the lower follower descends. On the said pinion shaft
two other similar wheels are keyed over which chains provided with
weights pass.
The action is as follows:-When the lower rams rise and lift the lower
follower the chains attached thereto cause the grooved wheels over
which they pass to rotate, and the clutches being engaged similar
rotation is imparted to the pinion shaft and to the other grooved wheels
thereon, the weights attached to the latter being thereby raised. When
the up stroke of the lower rams is completed the clutches are disengaged,
and the weights being then free descend and thus cause their grooved
wheels to rotate together with the pinions on the same shaft, and as
these pinions gear into the grid racks the grid is moved into its place
below the bale which is now ready to receive the final pressure by means
of the upper rams. After this pressure has been completed the grid is
shot back by hand. The same object may be effected by means of two
small hydraulic cylinders, these may be bolted to the frame of the press
and are double acting, that is to say, provided with ordinary means of
applying pressure to either side of their pistons or rams, and of thus
forcing their rods into or out of the cylinders. The cylinders have
valves of the usual kind to admit the water under pressure to either end,
and may be worked by means of tappets attached to the top and lower
rams.

page_text: to shew the hanks in the end of the bales of cotton or other material.
This is effected by fitting a tappet on the rod which carries the balance
weights, and thus attaching the rod to the handle of the lock of the
doors. The tappet is movable on the rod, and can be set or adjusted
according to requirement.
Another part of the Invention consists of a self-acting relief valve.
This is similar to an ordinary safety valve, and has a lever to engage
with a stop or washer on a bar attached to the lower rams of the press.
When these rams have attained their proper lift the stop or washer raises
the lever, and the water under pressure then passes away through the
valve to waste or to return instead of passing into the lower cylinders.
When the rams descend a weight on the lever causes the valve to close.
Another part of the Invention consists of a check safety valve for the
press pumps. A lever safety valve of the ordinary construction is
employed, but as under the heavy pressures used with hydraulic
machinery the recoil of the water due to the closing and opening of the
valve causes the valve to jump and quickly wear out, there is in order
to prevent this jumping a box fixed at a suitable distance in which a
small plunger works loaded to the exact pressure required. The lever
safety valve is loaded to such an excess of pressure that it will not rise
until a certain portion of the load on its lever is lifted or overcome by
means of the plunger. The plunger rests on the body of water, and is
therefore not subject to recoils but simply rises with excess of pressure,
and on the excess being removed descends without shock; the extra load
on the safety valve prevents this valve rising unless aided by the
plunger, all jumping and recoil being thus avoided. If preferred the
plunger may be fitted to work in the same box and be loaded by the
same lever as the safety valve itself. The action will be the same as
above described, the plunger being loaded to the required pressure, and
on this being exceeded it rises and relieves the safety valve of the weight
in excess.
According to another arrangement for stopping the recoil and the
jumping of the safety valve the plunger of a small hydraulic cylinder or
air pump (say 2 inches in diameter) is attached to the end of the safety
valve lever in such manner that when the end of the lever rises it lifts
the said plunger, thereby sucking up water or air (water is preferred)
into the cylinder, the water (or air) once inside the small cylinder would

page_text: then hold up the safety valve lever if there was no outlet; there is
however an outlet, and on a pipe leading from this outlet is a cock
whereby by regulating the outflow of the water the fall of the safety
valve lever can be rendered slow or rapid, as required.
Another part of the Invention consists of a safety or stop valve for the
top rams of the press. This safety valve communicates with the valve
box and also with the supply pipe, and with this pipe the valve box is in
communication as usual, as is also a return pipe from the top return
ram. The lever of the safety valve is weighted well over the highest
working pressure and is lifted at the proper time by the cross head of
the return ram before it reaches the gland on the downward stroke.
This is done by a tappet movable upon the side rods of the top return-
ram. By this arrangement the final thickness of the bale can be regu-
lated independently of the pressure.
Another part of the Invention consists in constructing the valve boxes
of the press and of the pumps with shifting scats. For this purpose the
scats are constructed separately from the remainder or body of the valve
box, and when in place are made tight or packed by washers of leather
or other suitable material. They consist of metal dises or cheeses held
in their places, some by a plug or gland screwed against them, and
others by a similar gland with a kind of cage or shell interposed. By
unscrewing the parts the seats can be readily removed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Thompson Manu in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 22nd June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
THOMPSON MANN, of the Firm of Fawcett, Preston, and Company, of
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her nost Excellent Majeety Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Thompson Mann,
Her special licepec that I, the said William Thompson Mann, my

page_text: executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Thompson Mann, 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 OR CONNECTED WITH HYDRAULIC
PRESSES AND PUMPS," (a communication to me from abroad by James
Watson, of Calcutta), upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Thompson Mann, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, 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 Scal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said William Thompson Mann, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say:-
This Invention has reference more particularly to the presses described
in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to James Watson, bearing
date the 25th day of October 1869, No. 3123. The said Specification
described a blocking apparatus composed of a gridiron frame, or of a
solid block made to slide into the press between the upper surface of a
lower "follower" or platform and the under side of the bale of material
under treatment. The gridiron frame or block was moved into and out
of the press at the proper times by means of racks and pinions actuated
by hand wheels.
Now the object of one part of the present Invention is to make the
gridiron frame self-acting. For this purpose chains are secured to the
bottom of the lower follower, and after going under or round grooved
rollers pass over grooved wheels. These wheels run loosely on the
pinion shaft of the gridiron frame, but can be made by means of clutches
worked by the attendant to turn the shaft when required. They are
provided with whelps or similar devices to ensure the grip of the chains

page_text: incrcon. The ends of the chains carry small balance weights to take up
the slack when the lower follower descends. On the said pinion shaft
two other similar wheels are keyed, over which chains provided with
weights pass.
This part of the Invention will be understood on reference to Figures 1
and 2 of the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 being a vertical section
and Figure 2 an end elevation partly in section of a press constructed
in accordance with the improvement just described.
A, A, represents the framing and B the receiving box of the press;
C. C, are the lower ram cylinders, and D is the lower follower or plat-
form fixed to the upper ends of the rams which work in the cylinders C,
C; E is the gridiron frame (or it may be a solid block) which is similar to
that described in the Specification of James Watson's Letters Patent
herein-before referred to. F, F, are the racks attached to the frame E
by means of which the said frame is moved into position; G, G, are
the pinions which gear with the racks F and are mounted on the shaft H;
I, I, are chains which are secured to the bottom of the follower D, and
which after passing under rollers J, J', and over rollers Jº, pass over
grooved chain wheels K, K, their ends being provided with balance
weights I., L, to take up slack. The wheels K, K, are mounted loosely
on the pinion shaft 11, but can be made by means of the clutches M, M,
to turn this shaft when required. N, N, are two other wheels similar to
the wheels K, K, and keyed on the shaft H; O, O, are chains on these
wheels, and P, P, are weights on the chains O.
The action is as follows:-When the lower rams rise and lift the
lower follower D the chains I, I, attached thereto cause the grooved
wheels K, K. over which they pass to rotate, and the clutches M, M,
being engaged similar rotation is imparted to the pinion shaft E and to
the other grooved wheels N, N, thercon, the weights P, P, attached to
the latter being thereby raised. When the up stroke of the lower rams is
completed the clutches M, M, are disengaged, and the weights P, P.
being then free, descend, and thus cause their grooved wheels N, N, to
rotate together with the pinions G, G. on the same shaft H, and as these
pinions gear into the grid racks F, F, the grid or frame E is moved into
its place below the bale, which is now ready to receive the final pressure
by means of the upper rams. After this pressure has been completed
the grid or frame E is shot back by hand. The same object may be

page_text: effected by means of two small hydraulic cylinders; these may be bolted
to the frame of the press, as represented in dotted lines at Q, Q, and are
double-acting, that is to say, provided with ordinary means of applying
pressure to either side of their pistons or rams, and of thus forcing their
rods into or out of the cylinders. The cylinders have valves of the
usual kind to admit the water under pressure to either end, and may be
worked by means of tappels attached to the top and lower rams.
Another part of the Invention consists in making the opening of the
end casing doors self-acting, the opening taking place at the exact time
to show the hanks in the end of the bales of jute or other material.
This is effected by fitting a tappet on the rod which carries the balance
weights of the top rams, and thus attaching the rod to the handle of the
lock of the doors. The tappet is movable on the rod and can be set or
adjusted according to requirement. This improvement will be under-
stood on reference to Figure 3. A, A, are the end casing doors which
move on the points or pivots at B, B. The doors are provided at the
bottom with bolts or sliding bars C, C, which take into corresponding
recesses in the framing, as seen at D, D; E, E, are weighted levers
turning on the points F, F, and taking at their inner ends into the
bolts C, C; G, G, are the rods which carry the balance weights of the
top rams, and H, H, are tappets on these rods. When the levers E, E,
are in the position shown in full lines, they are kept up by the tappets H,
and the doors A, A, are locked, but as the rods G, G, rise during the
working of the press the tappets gradually lift the levers E into the
position shown at E', and when the tappets rise still further they pass
the levers, which being then released fall into the position shewn at Eª,
and the doors are then free.
Another part of the Invention consists of a self-acting relief valve.
This is similar to an ordinary safety valve, and has a lever to engage
with a stop or washer on a bar attached to the lower rams of the press.
When these rams have attained their proper lift the stop or washer
raises the lever, and the water under pressure then passes away through
the valve to waste or to return instead of passing into the lower
cylinders. When the rams descend, a weight on the lever causes the
valve to close. This improvement is represented in Figures 1 and 2.
R is the relief valve, which it will be seen is similar to an ordinary
safety valve, and S is its weighted lever; T is the bar attached to the
lower rams of the cylinders C, C, so as to rise and descend with those

page_text: rams, and U is the stop or washer on this bar. When the lower rams
have attained their proper lift the stop U raises the lever S, and the
water under pressure then passes away through the valve R by the
outlet V to waste or to return. When the lower rams descend, the
weight on the lever S causes the valve R to close.
Another part of the Invention consists of a check safety valve for the
press pumps. A lever safety valve of the ordinary construction is
employed, but as under the heavy pressures used with hydraulic
machinery the recoil of the water due to the closing and opening of
the valve causes the valve to jump and quickly wear out, there is in
order to prevent the jumping a box fixed at a suitable distance, in which
a small plunger works loaded to the exact pressure required. The lever
safety valve is loaded to such an excess of pressure that it will not risc
until a certain portion of the load on its lever is lifted or overcome by
means of the plunger. The plunger rests on the body of water, and is
therefore not subject to recoils but simply rises with excess of pressure,
and on the excess being removed descends without shock. The extra
load on the safety valve prevents this valve rising unless aided by the
plunger, all jumping and recoil being thus avoided. Figure 4 repre-
sents the check safety valve just described. A is the lever safety valve
of ordinary construction. B being the lever of the same loaded to an
excess of pressure for the purpose before explained; C is the box before
mentioned, and D is the plunger therein, which plunger is loaded by
means of a weighted lever E to the exact pressure required. The
lever E takes under the lever B of the safety valve, so as to overcome or
lift a portion of the load thereon at times of extra heavy pressure. If
preferred the plunger may be fitted to work in the same box and be
loaded by the same lever as the safety valve itself. This modification
is represented in Figure 5. A being the safety valve. B its weighted
lever, and D the plunger fitted in the same box as the valve and loaded
by the same lever B. The action will be the same as above described,
the plunger being loaded to the required pressure, and on this being
exceeded it rises and relieves the safety valve of the weight in excess.
According to another arrangement for stopping the recoil and the
jumping of the safety valve, the plunger of a small hydraulic cylinder
or air pump (say 2 inches in diameter) is attached to the end of the safety
valve lever in such manner that when the end of the lever rises it lifts
the said plunger, thoroby sucking up water or air (water is preferred)

page_text: into the cylinder. The water (or air) once inside, the small cylinder
would then hold up the safety valve lever if there was no outlet; there
is however an outlet, and on a pipe leading from this outlet is a cock,
whereby by regulating the outflow of the water the fall of the safety
valve lever can be rendered slow or rapid as required. The manner in
which this mode of stopping the recoil and the jumping of the safety
valve may be carried into effect is represented in Figure 6. A is the
safety valve, and B its weighted lever; C is a small hydraulic cylinder,
the plunger D of which is attached to the end of the lever B; E is an
inlet valve in the cylinder C; F is an outlet from the cylinder, and Ga
pipe leading from this outlet, and provided with a cock H. When the
lever B rises the plunger D sucks up water through the valve E into the
cylinder C, and the water thus sucked up escapes by the outlet F, the
outflow being regulated by the cock H as required.
Another part of the Invention consists of a safety or stop valve for
the top rams of the press. This safety valve communicates with the
valve box and also with the supply pipe, and with this pipe the valve
box is in communication as usual. The lever of the safety valve is
weighted well over the highest working pressure, and is lifted at the
proper time by the cross head of the return ram before it reaches the
gland on the downward stroke. This is done by a tappet movable upon
the side rods of the top return ram. By this arrangement the final
thickness of bale can be regulated independently of the pressure.
The safety or stop valve just described and its action will be under-
stood on reference to the side elevation, Figure 3 (herein-before in part
described), and the plan, Figure 7. I is the supply pipe; J, the hand
inlet valve box; K, the hand outlet valve box; L, L, the top ram
cylinders; M, the return ram cylinder; N, the side rods of the cylinder;
M and O, their cross head; P is the stop or safety valve, the lever Q of
which is, as has been before mentioned, weighted well over the highest
working pressures.
This valve is in communication with the valve
box K, and through this box with the supply pipe I. The box K and
valve P are also in communication with the return pipe R, into which
the return pipe S from the return ram cylinder M also leads.
weight on the lever Q is connected by the rod T to an arm U on the
end of a shaft V. This shaft is free to turn or rock in bearings W, W.
and has fixed to it two levers or arms X, X, which are acted upon by
adjustable tappets Y on the rods N, N. As the cross head ☐ of the "
The

page_text: top return ram is descending the tappets Y come in contact with and
depress the ends of the levers X, thereby causing the shaft V to turn,
and so lift the arm U. This lifting of the arm U also lifts the lever of
the safety or stop valve P. By adjusting the tappets Y according to
requirement the final thickness of the bale can be regulated indepen-
dently of the pressure. When the cross head O and rods N again rise,
together with the tappets, the weight on the lever Q again closes the
valve P.
Another part of the Invention consists in constructing the valve boxes
of the press and the pumps with shifting valve scats. For this purpose
the seats are constructed separately from the remainder or body of the
valve box, and when in place are made Light or packed by washers of
leather or other suitable material. They consist of metal discs or
cheeses held in their places, some by a plug or gland screwed against
them, and others by a similar gland with a kind of shell or cage inter-
posed. By unscrewing The parts the seats can be readily removed.
“
Figure 8 is a vertical section representing a valve box fitted with a
shifting seat according to my Invention. A is the seat, in the form of a
metal disc or cheese, which is held up against the flange B of the box
by means of a screw-threaded plug C. Leather washers are inserted
at D, D.
Figure 9 is a section representing the shifting valve seats applied to
the pumps. A shews one shifting seat held up against the flange or
part B by the screw-threaded plug C, D being a leather washer; E is
another shifting seat held against the flange or part F by the screw-
threaded plug G, a cage or shell F being interposed. This cage is kept
in position by means of a peg I, as represented in the transverse section,
Figure 10.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as the
Improvements in or Connected with Hydraulic Presses and Pumps "
-
First. The arrangement of chains, wheels, and weights for making the
gridiron frame or block in certain hydraulic presses self-acting, substan-
tially as herein-before described and represented in Figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The arrangement of small hydraulic cylinders for making the
said gridiron frame or block self-acting, substantially as hercin-before
described and represented in Figures 1 and 2.

page_text: Third. The mode or arrangement for making the opening of the end
casing doors of hydraulic presses self-acting, substantially as herein-
before described and represented in Figure 3.
Fourth. Fitting hydraulic presses with a self-acting relief valve,
substantially as herein-before described and represented in Figures 1
and 2.
Fifth. The check safety valve, constructed and acting substantially
as and for the purpose herein-before described and represented in
Figure 4, and the modified form of the same represented in Figure 5.
Sixth. The fitting of a small hydraulic cylinder or air pump, as
herein-before described and represented in Figure 6, for the purpose
explained.
Seventh. Constructing hydraulic presses with a safety or stop valve,
substantially as herein-before described and represented in Figures 3
and 7.
Eighth. Constructing the valve boxes of hydraulic presses and pumps
with shifting valve seats, substantially as hercin-before described and
represented in Figures 8, 9, and 10..
In witness whercof, I, the said William Thompson Mann, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.