Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1887
Complete Left, 21st Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
We, H. C. BULL & COMPANY, Limited and HENRY CLAY BULL Engineer both of
31 Poultry, London do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to reduce the quantity of water used in doing any
given work by hydraulic engines. Engines at present in use are mostly very wasteful
inasmuch as they are arranged to hoist, or move a given load irrespectively of the real
weight of such load. For instance it matters not how light the load may be the
consumption of water is almost always the same as that required to lift, or move a
heavy, or full load except in some engines of special design of the double ram type
and even in these when used for hoisting and lowering there is no recovery of water,
when loads are being lowered. To avoid these wastes of power and water we construct
hydraulic engines with means for varying the stroke of the engines at any time to suit
different loads. We also prefer to construct such engines like steam hoisting engines
preferably of the oscillating type with the water ports radiating from the centre.
This admits of the use of partially balanced valves and relieves the valve seats of
wear. The shaft is made hollow whereby the mechanism for altering the length of
the stroke of the engine can be arranged, or provided for. By this means only the
quantity of water necessary to lift, or move the load is used.
When a load is being lowered by a lift the stroke of the engine is shortened until
the load overcomes the pressure driving the engines backwards, the engines then
acting as pumps restoring to the supply main under pressure an amount of water
nearly equal to the load lowered.
The operation of this engine as applied to lifts is as follows:-The lift attendant by
means of suitable appliances lengthens the stroke of the engine until the pressure of water

page_text: overcomes the load. In lowering he shortens the stroke until the load overcomes the
pressure of water. When used for other purposes than hoisting the length of stroke
will be operated by a suitable governor.
Amongst other things this arrangement admits (1st) of the use of water propor-
tionate to the load, (2nd) of the recovery of large quantities of water which is now
allowed to waste: (3rd) of economical application of hydraulic power to work of
variable resistance.
D L 11
حيمم
1
TI 1000
H. C. BULL & COMPANY, LIMITED.
HENRY CLAY BULL.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Hydraulic Engines.
We, H.C. BULL AND COMPANY, Limited and HENRY CLAY BULL, Engineer, both of
31 Poultry, London, 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 :-
Hydraulic Engines at present in use are mostly very wasteful, inasmuch as they are
arranged to hoist, or move a given load irrespectively of the real weight of such load.
For instance it matters not how light the load may be the consumption of water is
almost always the same, as that required to lift or move a heavy or full load, except in
some engines of special design of the double ram type, and even in these when used
for hoisting and lowering there is no recovery of water, when loads are being lowered.
The object of this Invention is to reduce the quantity of water used in doing any
given work by hydraulic engines, and to thereby avoid the above named wastes of
power and water.
To these ends we construct hydraulic engines of the rotary type, with means for
varying the stroke of the engines at any time to suit different loads. We also prefer
to construct such engines, like steam hoisting engines with the water ports radiating
from the centre. This admits of the use of a partially balanced valve and relieves the
valve seats of undue wear. The shaft of the engine is made hollow, whereby the
mechanism for altering the length of the stroke of the engine can be arranged or
provided for. By this means only the quantity of water necessary to lift or move the
load is used.
In practical application and when a load is being lowered by a lift, the stroke of
the engine is shortened, until the load overcomes the pressure, and thereby the engines
are driven backwards and they would then act as pumps, restoring to the supply main
under pressure or other source of supply an amount of water nearly equal to the load
lowered.
The operation of this engine as applied to lifts is as follows:―
The lift attendant by means of suitable appliances, lengthens the stroke of the
engine, until the pressure of water overcomes the load, on the other hand in lowering,
he shortens the stroke until the load overcomes the pressure of water. When used
for other purposes than hoisting, the length of stroke may be operated by a suitable
governor.
Having thus specified generally the objects and nature of this Invention its
description will first be proceeded with, in reference to the accompanying drawings,
by way of explaining more fully the construction, operation and effects of the
Invention. The drawings and description of them set forth a special hydraulic engine
and hoist designed to apply the method of operation which has been above explained.

page_text: Figure 1 shows the Engine and hoist in vertical section.
Figure 2 is a plan of the hoisting and engine controlling mechanism.
Figures 3. 4 and 5 are details of the engine.
Figure 6 is an outside plan of the engine.
Figure 7 is a vertical elevation of the engine. In all these figures the same
letters denote like parts.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the cylinder of the engine. B, the winding
barrel mounted in bearings bis the controlling mechanism of the engine, for
varying the stroke of it; D, is the hollow shaft; E a disc connected with the controlling
mechanism C; F is the crank; G is a guide disc for the crank F, and H is the water
controlling valve.
The cylinders A are of radial type and are of ordinary construction having liners a;
and the valve H controlling the water to and from them is of the well known type of
rotary valve, having the pressure of the water upon its back, but a great portion of
its area is freed from the pressure of water by extending it at its centre through the
cover of the valve case.
This extended portion forms a neck and is designated h, and it constitutes one
bearing for the valve, the other bearing being provided by its driving pin i. A watertight
joint is made between the neck of the valve H and the valve chest cover h¹ by a gland
and stuffing ; a spring h³ is provided between the gland h² and the valve to keep it
on its seat at all times, but more especially when the engine is reversed by the
lowering of a load and constitutes a pump. The valve H, is driven from the crank
pin F by the lever or crank ¹ of the pin i.
The barrel B is mounted and fixed upon the hollow shaft D, which at the end
nearest the engine is formed into a dished disc D. In this disc D¹, other discs E
and G are located the latter of them being fixed in it, whilst the former is capable of
rotation or being rotated therein. The fixed disc G, serves to hold the crank F and
provides the means for varying the relative positions of the crank and shaft; that is,
the differential length of stroke of the engine.
To admit of this variable position, the crank F slides in a groove in the disc G, see
Figures 1. 4 and 5, the crank F being made of corresponding shape to the groove.
To alter the length of the stroke of the engine the crank F is brought nearer to or
driven further from the axis or centre line of the engine and barrel as the case may
be. This is effected by the mechanism (and the disc E, as follows:
We will first explain the construction of these mechanisms. The disc E is provided
with a curved groove e in which a pin e¹ of the crank F works. It will be observed
upon reference to Figure 3 that this curved groove commences near the centre of
the disc and terminates near its periphery. A slot or aperture is provided in the
disc G to allow the connection and operation of the pin e¹ and disc E, and the latter is
connected to the gear C by the shaft E', which lies and works within the hollow
shaft D.
The gear or mechanism C consists of a worm or threaded nut j which is fixed upon
the spindle or shaft E¹ (see figure 2) in such a manner as to prevent its turning or
revolving thereon, but capable of movement on it in the direction of the axis of the
shaft.
For instance the well known sliding feather and key way or groove may be used to
admit of this motion.
The threads of this nut work in corresponding grooves provided in the hollow
shaft D of the barrel B, and is pressed into it or withdrawn therefrom by the screw K,
hand wheel K', a yoke K* and bearing K³. This bearing is fixed upon the bed plate
of the machine, and as the wheel is turned one way or the other the yoke K³-and with
it the nut will be moved one way or the other. By this movement this shafts D,
and E, and with them the discs D and E will receive a partial rotation about one
another, and in so acting the pin e¹ and crank F will be drawn by the disc E

page_text: nearer to or driven further from the axis of the engine. For instance in Figures 1
and 2 of the drawings the position of the crank and its controlling mechanism C just
described is shown at the extreme length, now if the nut j be forced into the shaft D
the shaft E' and the disc E make a partial revolution within the shaft D, and the
disc D' will thereby force the pin e¹ and the crank F nearer the axis of the engine
and so shorten its stroke.
Amongst other things this arrangement admits (1st) of the use of water proportionate
to the load (2nd) of the recovery of large quantities of water, which are now allowed
to waste: (3rd) of economical application of hydraulic power to work of variable
resistance.
We would state in conclusion that this Invention is not confined to the precise
means employed for obtaining the differential stroke of hydraulic engines herein
described, nor is it confined to the particular form of hoist set forth, as these
mechanisms may be of other and various types so long as the results herein specified
are produced substantially as specified.
On the other hand no claim is made to the type of engine and hoist herein set
forth, but what is claimed in respect of the said Invention are the improvements in
and connected with hydraulic engines in so far as they are constructed and operate as,
or substantially as herein before specified, that is to say:
First. The mode herein described of controlling and operating hydraulic engines
which mode consists of varying the stroke of such engines as, or substantially as set
forth, whereby the power and quantity of water employed is rendered proportional to
the load, whether such load be raised or moved by the engine, or the engine be
driven by the load.
Second. In hydraulic rotary engines of the type herein described by means
specified for varying the stroke of such engine, which consists of a disc or like device
such as E, operating in combination with the shaft of the engine, in such a manner
that by turning the said disc the crank of the engine is drawn to or pressed from the
axis of the engine substantially as set forth.
Third. The hydraulic engine and hoist set forth with reference to the drawings,
consisting of the cylinders A arranged radially to the axis of such engine, crank F,
discs D, E, and G, shafts D and E, and controlling mechanism C, all constructed
and operating as, or substantially as described and illustrated.
Fourth. In hydraulic engines the construction of the water distributing valve H
herein described, by which a portion only of the back of the valve is subjected to the
pressure of the water, and the friction upon the face and seat of the valve is
diminished, substantially as set forth, and as specified with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 20th day of April 1888.
6534
H. C. BULL AND COMPANY, LIMITED.
HENRY CLAY BULL.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
Agents.