IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH "
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Routledge, of Ford Works, near Sun-
derland, Paper Manufacturer, Daniel Bentley, and John Broad
Jackson, both of Lodge Banks, Bury, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES,
AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Routledge,
Daniel Bentley, and John Broad Jackson at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 19th October 1865.
We, THOMAS ROUTLEDGE, of Ford Works, near Sunderland, Paper
Manufacturer, DANIEL BENTLEY, and JOHN BROAD JACKSON, both of Lodge
Banks, Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES, AND IN
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions and arrangements
of hydraulic presses for compressing" half-stuff" used by paper makers, and
for compressing and packing bales of esparto, cotton, hay, and other com-
pressible materials, whereby the presses are rendered less liable to fracture, ar

page_text: more efficient in their action, and admit of the compressed bales being either
metal banded or roped, as may be found most desirable.
According to one arrangement of hydraulic press, which is more particularly
adapted to the compressing of "half-stuff," although it may be also used for
the compression of other substances, it is proposed to combine an upper
double-acting hydraulic cylinder and piston with the main cylinder and ram
of the press in such a manner that the lid or top cover of the chamber in
which the "half-stuff" is compressed shall be held down by the pressure of
the water on the top of the piston in this cylinder, such counter-pressure
being exerted directly upon the centre of the lid or cover by the lower end of
the piston rod. By this means the springing or yielding of the lid or cover
of the compressing chamber whilst under the action of the main ram is
prevented, and its consequent fracture avoided. This lid or cover is locked
securely in its place on the top of the compressing chamber, which it enters
for a short distance by means of catches fitted thereon, which are adjusted
under shoulders or collars on the main columns of the press. So soon as the
material has been sufficiently.compressed the main ram is lowered slightly,
which has the effect of slackening the catches, which are then readily released
from the shoulders; and the main ram caused to rise again, thereby forcing out
the block of "half-stuff" with the lid or cover resting thereon, the weight of
which keeps the block intact as it issues from the chamber, and prevents it
from splitting or falling to pieces by sudden expansion. The elevation of the
block of "half-stuff" or other material and lid or cover is continued until the
latter is caught by pendent hooks or lever arms suspended to the casting of
the upper cylinder, which serve to support the lid or cover during the time
a fresh supply of "half-stuff" is- being introduced into the compressing
chamber.
.According to another arrangement of hydraulic press it is proposed to
combine together two or more hydraulic cylinders, made for the sake of greater
portability in two or more separate castings, which are bolted together so as to
bring the cylinders parallel with each other, side by side. The rams of these
cylinders operate upon one ram head, which ram head works in a compressing
chamber containing the goods to be compressed. The back of this chamber
and the door in the front side thereof are left open at their upper part, and
two slots are made in the metal parallel to the upper and lower edge of this
opening. In these slots are fitted by means of dowell-headed bolts a number
of parallel bars, with intervals or spaces between them forming a species of
grating over the main openings. These bars are made adjustable laterally
along the slots, and may either be placed in a slanting or in a vertical positioni;

page_text: according as the bale is intended to be roped (by passing the rope spirally
round it) or metal banded, the spaces between the bare serving for the
introduction of the rope or metal bands, as the case may be.
Another form of hydraulic pressing apparatus suitable in cases where very
great pressure is not required, as, for example, for expressing superfluous
moisture from "half-stuff," spent hops, and other substances, consists of a
vessel with a perforated lining for containing the substances to be pressed or
squeezed, within which vessel fits a lid or cover connected to the lower end of
a piston rod, the piston of which works in an overhead double-acting hydraulic
cylinder, or two or more hydraulic cylinders may be employed by preference.
This cylinder or cylinders may either be supported in a special framing bolted
to the base plate of the machine, or otherwise fixed. When the substances
have been introduced into the perforated vessel or receptacle the lid or cover
descends by its own gravity upon them, the water underneath the piston
controlling the descent of the cover or pressing plate. A final squeeze or
pressure is then exerted upon the substances by admitting water above the
piston, and when the pressure is complete the lid or pressing plate is raised
again clear of the vessel by a fresh admission of water to the under side of
the piston.
Another part of this Invention relates to a peculiar mechanicalarrangement
for the purpose of absorbing the blow produced on the internal surface of the
cylinders of hydraulic presses of all kinds by the action of thepamp plungers.
This arrangement consists of an additional cylinder, which is fitted on to the
feed pipe of the press intermediate between the force pumps and the cylinder
of the press.
Inside this additional cylinder, which is connected with the
range of hydraulic pipes, there is a ram or plunger, upon the end of which
rests one, twe, or more curved weighted levers. So soon as the water
pressure commences in the hydraulic pipe the ram or plunger in this cylinder
rises, and continues so to rise as the pressure increases, lifting at the same
time the weighted lever. As this lever is curved inwards towards the cylinder
the weight when first lifted offers comparatively little resistance to the rising
of the plunger, but as the plunger rises and the pressure on the goods is
augmented this resistance gradually increases, by reason of the distance of the
weight from the fulcrum increasing. By this means the blow at each stroke
of the force pumps is absorbed by the ram of the small cylin ler, in lieu of
being exerted upon the interior of the main cylinder, which is frequently
the cause of fracture.
Another part of this Invention consists in placing the cylinders of the
pumps used in connection with hydraulic presses either horizontally or

page_text: diagonally to the crank shaft, by which arrangement two or more cylinders
facing each other can be driven from one crank, thus admitting of the said
cylinders being releathered with greater facility,and likewise rendering the
safety and other valves more accessible for grinding or repairs. When it is
desired to have a range of hydraulic pumps fitted to work at two or more
different pressures, a lock or stop valve attached to the bottom: of the suction
pipe of the lower pressure pumps, and actuated by a weighted lever arrange-
ment, is made to shut off the supply of water to such low-pressure pumps at
will, whilst the higher pressure pumps on the same range and feeding from
the same water supply may continue working.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Routledge, Daniel Bentley, and John Broad
Jackson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th April 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, TномдS
ROUTLEDGE, of Ford Works, near Sunderland, Paper Manufacturer, DANIEL
BENTLEY, and JOHN BROAD JACKSON, both of Lodge Banks, Bury, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reiga, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Thomas Routledge, Daniel Bentley, and John Broad Jackson, Her
special license that we, the said Thomas Routledge, Daniel Bentley, and
John Broad Jackson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Thomas Routledge, Daniel Beutley, and John Broad
Jackson, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and 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 HYDRAULIC PRESSES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas Routledge, Daniel
Bentley, and John Broad Jackson, by an instrument in writing under our
hands and seals, 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 Seal Patent Office within six

page_text: calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Routledge, Daniel Bentley,
and John Broad Jackson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
aud in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :--
Our said Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions and arrange-
ments of hydraulic presses, and in apparatus connected therewith, for
compressing "half-stuff" used by paper makers, and for compressing and
packing bales of esparto, cotton, hay, and other compressible materials,
whereby the presses are rendered less liable to fracture, are more efficient
in their action, and admit of the compressed bales being either metal
banded or roped, as may be found most desirable.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same letters
of reference iudicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of our Drawings represents a sectional elevation (taken
along the line 1, 2, in Figures 2, 3, and 4) of one arrangement of our im-
proved hydraulic pressing apparatus, as adapted more particularly to the
pressing of "half-stuff;" Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the top cylinder
taken along the line 3, 4, in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan of the intermediate
cylinder or compressing chamber; Figure 4 is a similar view of the main
hydraulic cylinder; and Figure 5 is an elevational detail of the guide rod
herein-after referred to. Although this press is more particularly.adapted to
the compressing of "half-stuff," it may be also used for the compression of
other substances. A is an upper double-acting hydraulic cylinder, in which
works a piston a combined with the main cylinder B and rain C of the press
in such a manner that the lid or top cover D of the chamber E, in which the
"half-stuff" is compressed, shall be held down by the pressure of the water
on the top of the piston a in the cylinder A, such counter-pressure being
exerted directly upon the centre of the lid or cover by the lower end of the
piston rod b. By this means the springing or yielding of the lid or cover
of the compressing chamber whilst under the action of the main ram is pre-
vented, and its consequent fracture avoided. This lid or cover is locked
securely in its place on the top of the compressing chamber E, which it enters
for a short distance by means of catches e fitted thereon, which are adjusted

page_text: .
under shoulders or coliars d on the main columns F of the press. Only one
of these columns with its catch is shown in Figure 1. So soon as the mate-
rial has been sufficiently compressed the main ram C is lowered slightly, which
has the effect of slackening the catches c, which are then readily released
from the shoulders d, whereupon the main ram is caused to rise again, thereby
forcing out the block of "half-stuff," with the lid or cover Dresting thereon,
the weight of which lid keeps the block intact as it issues from the chamber E,
and prevents it from splitting or falling to pieces by sudden expansion. The
elevation of the block of "half-stuff" or other material and lid or cover D
is continued until the latter is caught by pendent hooks or lever arms e (one
of which only is shown in the Drawings), suspended to the casting of the
upper cylinder A, which hooks serve to support the lid or cover during the
time a fresh supply of "half-stuff" is being introduced into the compressing
chamber. The compressing chamber E is lined with perforated zinc f, of
about a quarter of an inch in thickness, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and
the interior of this chamber is grooved and channelled or fluted so as to
afford free exit for the moisture behind the perforated lining. The three
cylinders A, B, and E, constituting the combined apparatus, are all tied to-
gether by the three main columns F, which are provided with suitable shoulders
or collars fitting on to lugs or bearings in the sides of the cylinders referred
to, as shown clearly in our Drawings. G (Figures 2 and 5) is a guide rod
secured to the lid or cover D, and passing freely through a guide aperture in
the casting A¹ of the top cylinder A, its objects being to guide the lid or
cover D, and keep it in the uxial line of the chamber E during its rising
and falling, so that it may always adjust itself accurately into the mouth of
such cylinder or compressing chamber; y is a stuffing box on the lower end
of the cylinder A, and h, h¹, are the pipes for admitting the fluid above or
below the piston a as required.
According to another arrangement of hydraulic press we propose to com-
bine together two or more hydraulic cylinders, made for the sake of greater
portability in two or more separate castings, which are bolted together so as
to bring the cylinders parallel with each other, side by side. Figure 6
represents a side elevation of a hydraulic baling press of this construction,
provided with special appliances for facilitating the metal banding or roping
of the bale; Figure 7 is a transverse section taken along the line 1 and 2 in
Figure 6; and Figure 8 is in sectional detail herein-after more fully referred
to. A, A, are the two rams of the pair of hydraulic cylinders B, B, operating
upon one ram head C, which ram head works in a compressing chamber D,
containing the goods to be compressed. The back of this chamber and the

page_text: door in the front side thereof are left open at their upper part, as shewn at E,
and two slots a,b, (Figures 6 and 8,) äre made in the metal parallel to the
upper and lower edge of this opening. In these slots are fitted by means of
dowell-headed bolts c a number of parallel bars F, F, with intervals or spaces
between them, forming a species of grating over the main openings. One of
these bärs is shown in position in longitudinal vertical section at Figure 8.
These bars are made adjustable laterally along the slots a, b, and may
either be placed in a slanting position, as shown in Figure 6, or in a vertical
position (they being slotted for that purpose at the part where the bolts é pass
through). According as the bale is intended to be roped (by passing the rope
spirally round it) ör metal banded the spaces between the bars F serving for
the introduction of the rope or metal bands, as the case may be. Slots d, 'd;
are provided in the top of the pressing chamber and in the face of the ram
for admitting of the roping of the bale, as will be clearly seen on referring to
Figures 6 and 7. Figure 9 is a side elevation of another form of hydraulic
pressing apparatus, suitable in cases where very great pressure is not required,.
as; for example, for expressing superfluous moisture from "half-stuff," spent
hops, and other substances; it consists of a cistern or vessel A, provided
with a perforated lining for containing the substances to be pressed or squeezed,
within which vessel fits a heavy or weighted lid or cover B, connected to
the lower end of a piston rod, the piston D of which (shown in dotted lines)
works in an over head double-acting hydraulic cylinder E, or two or more
hydraulic cylinders may be employed ifpreferred. The cylinder or cylinders E
may either be supported in a special framing ', bolted to the base plate of the
press as shown in the Drawings, or be otherwise fixed. When the substances
have been introduced into the cistern or vessel A the lid or cover B descends
by its own gravity upon them, the water in the cylinder E underneath the
piston D controlling the descent of the cover or pressing plate B. A final
squeeze or pressure is then exerted upon the substances by admitting water
above the piston D, and when the pressure is complete the lid or pressing
plate B is raised again clear of the cistern or vessel A by a fresh admission
of water to the under side of the piston D.
Another part of our Invention relates to a peculiar self-acting mechanical
arrangement, which we term an "hydraulic regulator," for the purpose of
absorbing the blow produced on the internal surface of the cylinders of
hydraulic presses of all kinds by the action of the pump plungers. This
arrangement is illustrated in side elevation and edge view by Figures 10
and 11 respectively, and consists of an additional cylinder A, which is con-
nécted by a branch B with the feed pipe of the press intermediate betwee

page_text: Le force pumps and the cylinder of the press. Inside this additional cylinder,
which is in communication with the range of hydraulic pipes there is contained
a ram or plunger C, the upper end of which carries an antifriction roller or
rollers a, a, and upon these rollers rest one, two, or more curved levers D,
which are centred or pivotted at E, and are provided with weights F. So
soon as the water pressure commences in the bydraulic pipe the ram or
plunger in this cylinder rises and continues so to rise as the pressure increases,
lifting at the same time the weighed lever or levers D, as shown by the red
lines in Figure 10. Asthese levers are curved inwards towards the cylinder A
the weights F when first lifted offer comparatively little resistance to the
rising of the plunger C; but as the plunger rises and the pressure on the
goods is augmented this resistance gradually increases by reason of the
distance of the weights from the fulcrum E increasing. By this means the
blow at each stroke of the force pumps is absorbed by the ram of the small
cylinder, in lieu of being exerted upon the interior of the main cylinder of the
press, which is frequently the cause of fracture.
Another part ofour Invention, illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 (Sheet 2), con-
sists in placing the cylinders of the pumps used in connection with hydraulic
presseseitherhorizontallyordiagonally tothecrankshaft, by whicharrangement
two or more plungers facing each other can be driven from one crank, thus
admitting of the said cylinders being releathered with greater facility, and like-
wise rendering thesafety andother valves more accessibleforgrindingorrepairs.
Figure 1 (Sheet 2) is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a corresponding plan
of a set of pumps arranged as above described. A is the p imp bed, forming
a tank or cistern; B is the pump actuating shaft, working in the bearings
C, C, and receiving motion from the driving shaft D, supported in bearings E
by means of the spur gearing F; G, G, and G, G¹, are four pumps disposed
horizontally in pairs on each side of the crank shaft B, the opposite pumps
G and G' of each pair being also in the same axial line; G. G, represent the
low pressure pumps, and G, G', the high pressure pumps, a low and a high
pressure pump being both worked simultaneously from one crank H; I, I,
are two metal slides to which the rams of the high and low pressure pumps
are secured; these slides travel along the surface K, and are formed with a
vertical slot or opening L, within which works a brass M carried by each
crank pin. As the crank shaft revolves it is obvious that a simultaneous
motion will be imparted to the rams of the several pumps. When it is
desired to have a range of hydraulic pumps fitted to work at two or more
different pressures, as illustrated on Sheet 2 of our drawings, a lock or stop
valve N, shown in dotted line in Figure 1, is attached to the bottom of such

page_text: of the suction pipes O,O, of the lower pressure pumps G, and is actuated by
a weighted lever P, which causes it to shut off the supply of water to such
low pressure pumps at will, whilst the higher pressure pumps G¹, G¹, onthe
same range and feeding from the same water supply by the suction pipe
01, 01, may continue working; Q is a low pressure safety valve lever which
allows the valve to blow off at, say, two tons per square inch; and R is the
lever of a high pressure safety valve blowing off at, say,
four tons per square
inch.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we would observe, in conclusion, that what we consider to be novel
and original, end therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general construction, arrangement, and combination of hydraulic
pressing apparatus substantiallyas herein-before described and illustrated by
our Drawings.
Second, the combination of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and piston
with the main cylinder and ram of a hydraulic press intended forcompressing
half stuff and other like substances, substantially in the manner and for
the
purpose herein-before described in reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of
our Drawings.
Third, the combination of two or more hydraulic cylinders and rams
operating in concert upon one ram head, substantially as herein-before
described in reference to Figure 6 of our Drawings.
Fourth, the application and use to and in the compressing chambers of
hydraulic baling presses of a series of laterally adjustable parallel bars placed
in front of openings made in two opposite sides or in the front and back plates
of such chambers at or near the upper end thereof, substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before described in reference to Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of
our Drawings.
Fifth, the combination of the slots a, b, and bolts c, or their equivalents,
with the slotted parallel bars F, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose hereinbefore described.
Sixth, the combination of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and piston
with a perforated vessel or vessels containing a perforated lining, and a lid or
cover fitting the interior of such vessel, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described in reference to Figure 9 of our Drawings.
Seventh, the application and use of an additional cylinder and plunger
acted upon by one or more curved weighted levers in connection with the

page_text: feed pipe of hydraulic presses, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described in reference to Figures 10 and 11 of our Drawings.
Eighth, placing the cylinders of the pumps of hydraulic presses either in a
horizontal or oblique direction on opposites sides of a crank shaft, and working
the rams or plungers of such pumps from the cranks, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein-before described in reference to Sheet 2
of our Drawings.
Ninth, the application and use to and in the suction pipes of the lower
pressure pumps when a range of lower and higherpressure pumps isemployed
of lock valves or stops actuated by a valve and weighted lever, substantially
as and for the purpose herein-before described in reference to Sheet 2 of
our Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Routledge, on behalf of myself
and the said David Bentley and John Broad Jackson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Seventeenth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-six.
THOS ROUTLEDGE. (L.B.)