Improvements in the Construction and Working of Anglo-American Oil-mill Presses, and in the Conversion of Taper-box Presses into Anglo-American.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26.h Apr., 1855
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1896 ·
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Working of Anglo-American
Oil-mill Presses, and in the Conversion of Taper-box Presses
into Anglo-American.
I, GEORGE EPHRAIM SELBY, of 306, Wincolmlee, Hull, in the County of
York, Oil Mill Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of constructing the press-plates
used in hydraulic presses for the extraction of oil and the making of cakes from
oil or other seeds, the same being known to the trade as Anglo-American presses;
and also to a simpler construction of the racks or rests which support the plates
when the press is down. The invention is, moreover, applicable in the conversion
of the old fashioned taper-box presses to the Anglo-American type of construction.
Hitherto the press-plates have been formed in such a manner as to permit the
spreading of the heated seed meal under pressure, so that not only is a considerable
quantity of the said meal washed out with the oil at the edges of the plates, thus
blocking the oil passages and necessitating the expenditure of labour in clearing
the said passages and the receiving tanks, but the cakes are formed with a soft
irregular edge which must be pared off to impart symmetry to the cake, such
parings forming a considérable percentage of the total seed crushed.
The improvements consist, first, in so forming the lateral edges of the press-
plates that when the pressure comes on, the said plates interlock in such a manner
as to prevent the lateral spreading of the meal, the cake being formed with a
natural edge requiring but little subsequent paring.
The press-plates are formed with a thickened edge partly above and partly
below the normal thickness of the plate; the part projecting above the level of
the plate coming within the projection on the lower side of the plate next above,
sufficient clearance being left to permit the oil to pass freely, whilst the meal is
retained.
The projecting edge on the upper side of the plate is so formed as to truly guide
the hand-plate employed to insert the bag containing the meal.
With the form of plates at present in use, there is a liability for the bag to be
placed a little towards one side or the other; and this not only tends to prevent
the true formation of the cake, but also destroys the bagging.
Each plate is provided with four projections for guiding the plates during ascent,
and with four lockable catches or other projections for supporting the plate on the
racks or
rests when the press is down; the construction being such that no
obstruction is offered to the insertion of the meal or to the withdrawal of the
cake.
The said projections and lockable catches are formed upon or attached to the
plates in such a manner as to permit the ready withdrawal of the plates from the
press. Owing moreover to their form, the accumulation of meal at these places to
such an extent as would tend to break the plates is prevented.
Instead of the two side racks usually employed to support the plates when the
press is down and extending from the press-bottom to the press head, or instead of
the link form of rest sometimes used, I employ four short racks or rests suspended
from or attached to the top of the press columns or to the press-head. Such racks
or rests may be placed either between or outside the said columns.

page_text: By the employment of this invention, greater cleanliness in working is secured,
the parings and soft seed requiring to be reworked are diminished, the bagging is
rendered more durable the cakes are more readily withdrawn, and the construction
of the plates and rests is much simplified.
Dated 'thie 26th day of April 1805
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Working of Anglo-American
Oil-mill Presses, and in the Conversion of Taper-box Presses
into Anglo-American.
I, GEORGE EPHRAIM SELBY, of 306, Wincolmlee, Hull, in the County of
York, Oil Mill Manager, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved mode of constructing the press-plates used
in hydraulic presses for the extraction of oil and the making of cakes from oil or
other seeds, the same being known to the trade as Anglo-American presses; and
also to a simpler construction of the racks or rests which support the plates when
the press is down. The invention is, moreover, applicable in the conversion of the
old fashioned taper-box presses to the Anglo-American type of construction.
Hitherto the press-plates have been formed in such a manner as to permit the
spreading of the heated seed meal under pressure, so that not only is a considerable
quantity of the said meal washed out with the oil at the edges of the plates, thus
blocking the oil passages and necessitating the expenditure of labour in clearing
the said passages and the receiving tanks, but the cakes are formed with a soft
irregular edge which must be pared off to impart symmetry to the cake, such
parings forming a considerable percentage of the total seed crushed.
With the form of plates at present in use, there is also a liability for the bag to
be placed a little towards one side or the other; and this not only tends to prevent
the true formation of the cake but also destroys the bagging.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an elevation of the front of a
hydraulic press embodying my improvements.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding side view, and Fig. 3 a horizontal section taken on the
line 3-3 in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a plan of one of my improved plates detached.
Fig. 5 represents, in end elevation, two such plates, and illustrates the manner
of interlocking.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the racks or rests for supporting the plates, one of
the plates of the upper series and one of the plates of the lower series being shown
in the position of rest, and each furnished with my improved lockable catches.
Fig. 7 illustrates in plan and side view a modified form of catch.
Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a plan and an elevation of an alternative mode of
constructing the racks.
Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating the mode of applying my
invention to a taper plate, whereby the manufacture of taper cakes may be carried
out in the manner adopted in machines of the Anglo-American type.
The present improvements consist, first, in so forming the lateral edges of the
press-plates that, when the pressure comes on, the said plates interlock in such a
manner as to prevent the lateral spreading of the meal, the cake produced having a
natural edge requiring but little subsequent paring.

page_text: A press-plate constructed according to my improved method is illustrated in
Figs. 4 and 5. The plate A is formed with a thickened edge partly above and
partly below the normal thickness of the plate so as to form ribs a a², the upwardly
projecting ribs a fitting within the downwardly projecting ribs a¹ of the plate next
above; sufficient clearance being left to permit the oil to pass freely, whilst the
meal is retained.
The inner sides of the ribs a a are so formed in relation to the main body A
as to truly guide the hand-plate usually employed to insert the bag containing the
meal. In the drawings, the exterior of the rib a is vertical to the body of the
plate; while the interior of the rib is vertical for a short distance and is then
dished or bevelled towards the upper outer edge. The right-angle formed at the
inner base of the ribs with the body of the plate furnishes a guide to the entering
hand-plate.
Each plate A is further provided with four projections bb for guiding the plates
between the columns CC; thus enabling the width of the plate between such
projections to be reduced. These projections are rectangular in plan, their upper
surfaces preferably terminating in V-edges with a view to preventing the lodgment
of meal. An opening 6' is formed in each projection to allow the escape of the
surplus meal. The projections are each furnished with a lockable catch c for
supporting the plate on the racks or rests D D when the press is down. These
catches c are bevelled or chamfered at o' and are secured to the projections 6 of the
plates by a single screw or bolt, as shown; the chamfered part c¹ coming into
contact with the chamfered or bevelled edge as of the plate upon the press being
released. The catches serve also as guides for preventing longitudinal movement
of the plates; those pertaining to the upper series of plates being simple straight
pieces, working against the sides of the columns C, while those pertaining to the
lower series of plates are bent as illustrated in detail in Fig. 6. The part 2 of the
bent catch e takes its bearing on one of the steps d of the rack or rest D, and
the part projects and works along the outer side of the rack, whereby the plate is
preserved from longitudinal displacement. If desired, the straight form of catch
may be employed throughout the series of plates. Or I may substitute for the
part of the bent catch, a projection ex (Fig. 7) arranged to work along the surface
of the press columns C.
It will be seen that the construction and arrangement of these projections and
catches is such that no obstruction is offered to the insertion of the meal or to the
withdrawal of the cake; and at the same time by simply raising the plates and
allowing the catches to fall, the ready withdrawal of the plates from the press is
permitted. The accumulation of the meal at these places to such an extent as would
tend to break the plate is moreover prevented. The reduction of the width of the
plates between the projections bb and the chamfering or bevelling their edges
facilitate the escape of any meal which may find its way past the interlocking
ribs; ensuring its falling away clear of the underlying plates to the bottom of the
press.
Instead of the two side racks usually employed to support the plates A when
the press is down and extending from the press bottom to the press-head, or, instead
of the link form of rest sometimes used, I prefer to employ four short racks or
rests DD (Fig. 6) furnished with steps or ledges d d upon which the catches c of
the plates rest; the said racks being suspended from or attached to the top of
the press-columns C or to the press-head E. Such racks or rests may be placed
either between or outside the said columns. In the drawings, I have shown them
as placed outside the columns. For securing the racks D to the press-columns C,
the former are provided at their upper extremities with L-shaped bracket pieces d³ ;
each of these fitting against and being bolted to a squared portion at the top of the
column. In Figs. 8 and 9 1 have shown the. rack D furnished with a shroud dº,
which serves as a guide for the catches c and to prevent longitudinal displacement
of the plate.
Fig. 10 illustrates my improved method of adapting a taper plate for use in the
:

page_text: 'manufacture of taper cakes in presses of the Anglo-American type. The pro-
juctions bb are made somewhat longer at one end of the plate in order to allow for
the decreased width at that part.
.
In the construction of new presses on the Anglo-American principle, as also in
the conversion of old style or taper-box presses into Anglo-American, rectangular
plates, such as shown in Fig. 4, are used; but it will be seen that taper cakes may
be as readily produced in Anglo-American presses embodying the present improve-
ments as cakes of rectangular form, the expensive wood envelopes or horse-hair
wrappers being at the same time dispensed with.
By the employment of this invention, greater cleanliness in working is secured,
the quantity of parings and soft seed requiring to be reworked are diminished, the
bagging is rendered more durable, the cakes are more readily withdrawn, and the
construction of the plates and rests is much simplified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. For use in hydraulic presses for the extraction of oil and the manufacture of
cakes from oil or other seeds, the improved construction of press-plates, substantially
as herein described; each plate having along each side ribs which project partly
above and partly below the normal thickness of the plate, and which are disposed
in such a manner that the ribs upon the upper side of one plate whilst serving as
guides to the hand-plate, enter between the ribs depending from the under side of
the plate next above, with the result that, upon the pressure being applied, the
plates interlock and prevent the meal spreading, the cake requiring but little
subsequent paring.
2. In presses of the kind herein referred to, the employment of press-plates,
constructed substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
adapted to guide the hand-plate and to effect an interlocking action between
contiguous plates.
3. In presses of the kind herein referred to, providing the press-plates with
projections arranged opposite to and engaging with each column, such projections
or guides being formed with openings for the escape of the surplus meal,
substantially as herein described.
4. For use with press-plates of the type herein referred to, the employment of
lockable catches such as e adapted to take a bearing upon the racks or rests and
to support the plate when the press is down, the longitudinal displacement of
the plate being thereby prevented, whilst the removal when necessary of the plate
from the press is facilitated.
5. In hydraulic presses for the extraction of oil and the manufacture of cakes
.from oil or other seeds, the combination, with the racks or rests D, of plates A
having lateral projections provided with openings 6, and lockable catches or
supports c, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 19th day of December 1895.