IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR RAISING AND CONVEYING WEIGHTS, AND CONVEYING POWER, IN POMPING ENGINES SUITABLE FOR ACTUATINGUCH
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Betts Brown, of No. 80, Cannon Street,
in the Oity of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR RAISING AND CONVEYING WEIGHTS, AND CONVEYING POWER,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Betts Brown
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th January 1869.
I, ANDREW BETTS BROWN, of No. 80, Cannon Street, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR RAISING AND CONVEYING WEIGHTS, AND CON-
VEYING POWER, AND IN POMPING ENGINES SUITABLE FOR ACTUATING SUCH
MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for
raising and conveying weights and conveying power, and in pumping
engines suitable for actuating such machinery.
For raising and conveying weights I employ a crane the lifting chain
of which is actuated by an hydraulic cylinder and ram, each carrying a

page_text: pulley or pulleys around which the chain is passed in such manner
that when water is admitted to the cylinder and the ram caused to move
outwards, the length of chain extending between the pulleys is increased
and consequently the weight attached to its free end is raised. This
construction is in itself well understood, but my Invention consists in
an improved arrangement for supplying water under pressure to tho
hydraulic cylinder, so that if desired the whole apparatus may be
mounted on a carriage as a travelling crane. This arrangement consists
of a steam boiler working a small pumping engine and having in oon-
nection with it a cylinder, into which the steam or water of the boiler
is at all times free to enter. This cylinder contains a ram which the
pressure tends constantly to force outwards. The ram carries another
smaller ram working in a corresponding cylinder containing water and
the pressure on the larger ram tends to force the smaller into its cylinder.
The water is thus contained in this cylinder under a very heavy pressure,
and the cylinder serves as a reservoir from which water under pressure
As
is drawn as it is required by suitable valves to work the crane.
the water is allowed to pass out of the supply cylinder the ram which
is directly exposed to the pressure in the boiler moves outwards, con-
stantly maintaining the pressure on the water in the supply cylinder,
and in moving outwards it opens the steam valvo, admitting steam to
the steam engine which immediately commences to work, pumping
water into the supply cylinder until it is again full, the larger ram being
at the same time forced back into its cylinder. When the supply
cylinder is full, instruments in connection with the rams close the steam
vulve and the engine is stopped. The supply cylinder will then contain
a charge of water ready to work the crane at any moment. Similar
inechanism may be adapted to hoists and also to apparatus for moving
weights on inclines or on horizontal planes. Similar arrangements may
also be employed in other cases where it is desired to retain water or
liquid under pressure to be expended in giving motion to machinery
either in the immediate vicinity of the apparatus or at a distance
therefrom.
To notable amnes where the chain is passed over nulleys which by

page_text: is placed opposito to the jib, and is curved, becoming more and more
inclined as it passes outwards. The load on the chain then draws the
counterpoise out along the arm a greater or less distanco up the incline,
according to its weight, and the curve of the arm is so proportioned that
the counterpoise is thus brought to the position required to maintain
the stability of the crane.
The pumping engine which I prefer to employ consists of a steam
cylinder with steam and exhaust passages arranged in the usual manner,
and ports, over which a slido valve works. On the valve rod are two small
pistons one at each end working in corresponding cylinders, and each of
these cylinders has a steam passage connecting its inner end with the
main cylinder, and also an opening or escape passage near its other
end. The small pistons working in these cylinders have small holes
or leaks through them, but the area of these is much less than that
of the escape passages before mentioned. The steam passages connecting.
the main cylinder with the smaller cylinders open into the main cylinder
at short distances from its ends, so that the piston when it gets near the
end of its stroke in either direction passes ono of these passages, and
the steam rushing through it immediately blows over the valve, the
motion of the small piston on which the steam comes being opposed
only by the pressure of the atmosphere. This motion of the piston places
it over the free escape passage which it thus closes and so prevents loss
of steam through the leak in the piston, the steam passing only until
equilibrium is established on both sides of the piston so that this piston
may not oppose the action of the other small piston when it in turn has
to act to move the valve. On the piston rod of the main steam cylinder
is also the pump piston working in a corresponding cylinder, and the
pump valves are on the same rod as the steam valve and small pistons.
These valves are two discs fixed upon the rod at a distance apart and
faced with indin-rubber on both sides. Each disc works between two
faces and when either disc is against its outer face it is closing its delivery
passage, and when it is against its inner face it is closing the suction
passage, the suction being between the two disc valves, and the passages
to the ends of the pump cylinders terminate respectively in the spaces
between the faces against which the disc valves work.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Andrew Betts Brown in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th July 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THEST PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANDREW
BETTS BROWN, of No. 80, Cannon Street, in the City of London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Andrew Betts Brown, Her special
licence that I, the said Andrew Betts Brown, my executors, adminis
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Andrew Betts Brown,
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 thoroin 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 MACHINERY FOR RAISING AND CONVEYING WEIGHTS, AND COX-
VEYING POWER, AND IN PUMPING ENGINES SUITABLE FOR ACTUATING SUCH
MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Andrew
Betts Brown, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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.
66
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Andrews Betts Brown, 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, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for
raising and conveying weights and conveying power, and in pumping
engines suitable for actuating such machinery.
For raising and conveying weights I employ a crane, the lifting chain

page_text: of which is actuated by an hydraulic cylinder and ram each carrying a
pulley or pullics around which the chain is passed in such manner that
when water is admitted to the cylinder and the ram caused to move
outwards the length of the chain extending between the pulleys is
increased and consequently the weight attached to its freo end is raised.
This construction is in itself well understood, but my Invention consists
in an improved arrangement for supplying water under pressure to the
hydraulic cylinder so that if desired the whole apparatus may be mounted
on a carriage as a travelling crane. This arrangement consists of a steam-
boiler working a small pumping engine and having in connection with
it a cylinder into which the steam or water of the boiler is at all times
free to enter. This cylinder contains a ram which the pressure tends
constantly to force outwards. The ram carries another smaller ram
working in a corresponding cylinder containing water, and the pressure
on the larger ram tends to force the smaller into its cylinder. The
water is thus contained in this cylinder under a very heavy pressure
and the cylinder serves as a reservoir from which water under pressure
is drawn as it is required by suitable valves to work the crane. As the
water is allowed to pass out of the supply cylinder the ram which is
directly exposed to the pressure in the boiler moves outwards constantly
maintaining the pressure on the water in the supply cylinder, and in
moving outwards it opens the steam valve admitting steam to the steam
engine which immediately commences to work pumping water into the
supply cylinder until it is again full, the larger ram being at the same
time forced back into its cylinder. When the supply cylinder is full
instruments in connection with the rams close the steam valvo and the
engine is stopped. The supply cylinder will then contain a charge of
water ready to work the crane at any moment. Similar mechanism may
bo adapted to hoists and also apparatus for moving weights on inclines
or on horizontal planes. Similar arrangements may also be employed in
other cases where it is desired to retain water or liquid under pressure
to bo expended in giving motion to machinery either in the immodinte
vicinity of the apparatus or at a distance therefrom.
:
In portable cranes where the chain is passed over pulleys which, by an
bydraulic cylinder or iam or by other contrivance aro moved away from.
cach other as above described, I connect the end of the chain opposite
to that to which the weight to he raised is connected with, a counter..

page_text: balance weight capable of running in and out on an arm which is placed
opposite to the jib and is curved, becoming more and more inclined as it
passes outwards. The load on the chain then draws the counterpoise out
along the arm a greater or less distance up the incline according to its
weight, and the curve of the arm is so proportioned that the counterpoise
is thus brought to the position required to maintain the stability of
the crane.
Tho pumping engine which I prefer to employ consists of a steam
cylinder with steam and exhaust passages arranged in the usual
manner, and ports, over which a slide valve works. On the valve rod arc
two small pistons, one at each end, working in corresponding cylinders,
and each of these cylinders has a steam passage connecting its inner end
with the main cylinder and also an opening or escape passage near its
other end. The small pistons working in these cylinders have small
holes or leaks through them, but the area of these is much less than that
of the escape passages before mentioned. The steam passages connecting
the main cylinder with the smaller cylinders open into the main cylinder
at short distances from its ends, so that the piston when it gets near the
end of its stroke in either direction passes one of these passages, and the
steam rushing through it immediately blows over the valve, the motion
of the small piston on which the steam comes being opposed only by
the pressure of the atmosphere; this motion of the piston places it over
the free escape passage, which it thus closes, and so prevents loss of
steam through the leak in the piston, the steam passing on until the equi-
librium is established on both sides of the piston, so that this piston may
not oppose the action of the other small piston when it in turn has to act
to move the valve. On the piston rod of the main steam cylinder is also
the pump piston working in a corresponding cylinder and the pump
valves are on the same rod as the steam valve and small pistons; thesc
valves are two discs fixed upon the rod at a distance apart and faced with
india-rubber on both sides. Each disc works between two faces, and
when either disc is against its outer face it is closing its delivery passage,
and when it is against its inner face it is closing the suction passage, the
suction being between the two disc valves, and the passages to the ends
of the pump cylinders terminate respectively in the spaces between the
faces against which the disc valves work.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood.and

page_text: Figure 1 is a side view of a portable jib crane constructed according to
my Invention. a, a, is a base or carriage mounted on flanged wheels
', a', for running on a railway, and so the crane is conveyed to the place
where it is required; 6 is the hydraulic cylinder fixed upon the base or
carriago a; it also serves as the centre post about which the moving
parts of the crane turu, namely, the platform e supporting the boiler, the
engine, and the accumulator, and to which the jib d is jointed. The jib
and other moving parts aro also connected as is shown with a collar c
around the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder; the platform c is further
supported by conical rollers beneath it which bear upon a baso ring
around the base of the cylinder b; fis the ram having a pulley on its
head, over which the crane chain passes, it also passes around the
pulleys and h, one on either side of the hydraulic cylinder over the
pulley i at the jib head, and so it passes to the weight to be raised; & is
an accumulator from which the hydraulic cylinder 6 is supplied with
water under high pressure by means of hand valves of ordinary con-
struction, not seen in the Drawing; are pumping engines, such as
hercin-after described, or of any suitablo construction for pumping water
into the accumulat k; mis a large ram on the top of the ram of the
accumulator, entering through a stuffing box into a cylinder n, to which
steam is supplied from a boiler o, and the ram of the accumulator is
thus loaded. In order that the load nuay not vary with the pressure in
the boiler the steam is admitted to the cylinder by means of a differential
valvo n', which closes and prevents the entry of steam from the boiler
when the pressure in the cylinder has risen to the point to which tho
apparatus is adjusted. n³ is a valve box, in which is a valvo regulating
tho admission of steam from the cylinder n to the pumping engines &;
this valve is closed by the ram m when in its highest position, but as
soon as the ram commences to fall in consequence of the water being
allowed to pass into the hydraulic cylinder to lift the load, steam passes
to the engines and causes them to pump, and they continue pumping
until tho load is raised as far as is required, and afterwards, when the
valve supplying water to the hydraulic cylinder, the pumping goes on

page_text: until the ram m again arrives at its highest position. In place of rams
pistons may be employed, but less conveniently.. Stability under
varying loads is given to the crane by connecting the inner end of the
crane chain to a moving weight p capable of running on an inclined
arm q opposite to the jib, the incline becomes steeper as it recedes from
the centre. The chain is passed over pullies, as is shown, to the moving
weight in such manner that the load on the chain drawing the weight
along the incline until the steepness of the incline produces an
equilibrium, and then from the form given to the incline the moving
parts of this crane with the load will be balanced about the post b, or
thereabout. The crane chain need not be attached directly to the
counterpoise weight, tackle may be introduced so that a small motion
of the crane chain may produce a considerable motion of the counter-
poise; the form of the incline will require to be varied accordingly.
The water from the accumulator passes into a casing or hollow collar r
surrounding the hydraulic cylinder b, and covering a water passage
formed in its side. The collar is made tight around the cylinder &
by cup leathers or other suitable packing, so that it may turn around
the cylinder with the other moving parts of the crane.
The method of loading an accumulator with a ram entering a cylinder,
to which steam, or it may be water under pressure, is supplied from the
boiler which works the pumps, is applicable to other apparatus for
raising and conveying weights, and pipes may be taken from the
accumulator to any point where water under pressure may be required
to yield motive power.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the pumping engine. a is the
steam cylinder with its piston 6, on the rod a of which at its further end
is also fixed the pump piston d, working in the pump barrel e; f is the
steam valve in the valve box g which receives steam from the boiler.
On the valve rod i are two small pistons k, k, working in cylinders 2, 1,
at the ends of the valve box. These cylinders are connected with the
steam cylinder a by the passages 1, F, and P, F, are free passages out
of the cylinders. When the steam piston 6 at the completion of its
stroke in either direction passes one of the passages A, the steam rushes
through the passage and striking the corresponding piston / forces it
up its cylinder 1, and so reverses the valve f; this it does because the air
on the other side of this piston k, is able to escape freely by the

page_text: passage, and the motion 'continues until the passage is closed and
the pressures on the two sides of this piston k, are equal or thereabout."
The pistons & have small passages ! through them, so that the acting
piston may not bo resisted by the other, this 'passage when the piston is
5 standing over the passage & maintains equilibrium in the pressure of
steam on its two sides, so that the piston can freely bo moved, and no
material difference will exist in these pressures until the passage is
uncovered, and by this time the momentum of the pistons and of the
tumbling weight m connected with them will be sufficient to complete.
0.tho stroko of the valve. The water valves n, n, are mounted on tho
same valve rod i. The water inlet is at o between them and they work
against the faces p, p, q, q, r, r, are the passages to and from the pump
cylinder and is the outlet. Each valvon consists of a metal disc,
with a disc of vulcanized india-rubber on each side of it, and beyond
5 these again are other metal discs, of such as a size as just to enter freely'
the openings to which the valves are fitted. The india-rubber discs of
the valves n act as buffers to check and stop the valye rod with the
parts upon it at each end of its stroke.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I would have
> it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details described,
but what I claim is, the application in machinery for raising and con-
veying weights, and conveying power of an accumulator or reservoir,
into which water or liquid is forced by pumps worked by a steam engine,
the pressure in such accumulator or reservoir being maintained by the
pressure of the steam in the boiler acting on rams or pistons as above
described.
I also claim the application in portable cranes of a balanco weight
moveable on an inclined arm and connected with the crane chain at
the end opposite to that which receives the load in such manner that the
load coming on the chain may according to its weight draw out the
halance weight to a greater or less distance from the centre so as to
•

page_text: Laachinery for raising and conveying weights and conveying power
substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Betts Brown, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the
year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
ANDREW BETTS BROWN. (L.S.)