IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMMERS AND OTHER MACHINES ACTUATED BY STEAM OR OTHER FLUID OR VAPOUR
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Massey and Stephen Massey, of Open-
shaw, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMMERS AND OTHER MACHINES ACTUATED BY STEAM
OR OTHER FLUID OR VAPOUR."
Sealed the 12th December 1865, and dated the 14th June 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Massey and
Stephen Massey at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 14th June 1865.
We, BENJAMIN MASSEY and STEPHEN MASSEY, of Openshaw, near Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMMERS AND OTHER MACHINES ACTUATED BY
STEAM OR OTHER FLUID OR VAPOUR," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the valves of hammers and other machines
actuated by steam or other fluid, and to the means used for moving and con-
trolling these valves. To the main valves of the cylinder (which may be
either of the kind known as the "double piston," or any other kind,) we
connect a piston fitted into a small cylinder, which piston being moved in the
manner hereafter described moves the main valves, and thereby controls the
motion of the main piston of the hammer or other machine. The valves of

page_text: this small cylinder consist by preference of two slide valves moving upon a
facing, in which are four ports, two of which lead to the ends of the cylinder,
and two into the exhaust pipe. Each slide valve covers one steam port and
one exhaust port, and the two valves move simultaneously; each valve is
moved by means of a radius bar or by a sliding lever, one end of which is
moved by the tap or other convenient part of the machine, and the fulcrum
of which is supported by an eccentric stud in the framing; the valves are
thus always in motion whilst the hammer or machine is in operation, and by
turning either or both of the eccentric studs either or both of the slide valves
can be moved in relation to the ports which it covers so as to admit steam to
either ends of the small cylinder at longer or shorter intervals of time, thereby
controlling the motion of the main valves and of the whole machine. Or,
instead of using two radius bars or levers, one may be made to move both
valves by connecting them together by means of a screw or other arrange-
ment which permits of their positions in relation to one another being altered.
Instead of slide valves for the small cylinder, double piston valves may be
used provided with the same adjustments. In the case of. double piston
valves, instead of moving them nearer to or further from one another, they
may be made fast upon their spindle, and the casing in which they move may
be made in two pieces capable of being moved longitudinally, which arrange-
ment will regulate the admission of steam to the small cylinder in the same
manner as if the pistons themselves were adjustable. For guiding and sup-
porting the tups of steam hammers in their fall, we make facings upon the
back and front of the tup which bear against corresponding facings made
upon the insides of the binding plates which connect the two standards of the
hammer instead of guiding it by means of the grooves and projecting slides
commonly in use; the tup is then cased in by the standards and binding
plates on all sides, and more effectively guided than by the method commonly
In "helve or Oliver" hammers we raise and depress the hammer
head by means of a cylinder and piston actuated by steam or other fluid;
this cylinder may be fixed either rigidly or upon centres so as to allow
of oscillation, and it may be either between the fulcrum and the hammer head
or with the fulcrum between it and the hammer head, or with the hammer
head between it and the fulcrum. The valves are moved by means of a lever
supported at or near to one end, and carrying a stud at or near the other end,
which is connected with and moved by the head of the piston rod or the
hanmer helve; and is adjustable as to its distance from the fulcrum.
By moving this stud-nearer to or further from the fulcrum the traverse of the
valvo may be increased or reduced in proportion to the travel of the hammer
in use.

page_text: .
head, and by this means the lift and fall of the hammer can be regulated; or
the stud may be disconnected from the piston rod or helve and connected to a
lever moveable by the hand or foot, by means of which the hammer may be
worked to give a single blow as with an ordinary hand motion, and this lever
is so arranged that when the hammer is stopped it shall stop either at the
bottom or top of its stroke, or at any other point that may be desired. We
make the fulcrum of the helve moveable either in a straight line or an arc of
a circle, or in any other curve that the nature of the work to be done by the
hammer requires, employing for the purpose of guiding the fulcrum either
slides, parallel motion, or radius rods. We move and support the fulcrum by
means of a cylinder and piston actuated by steam, water, or any other fluid,
which is admitted to the cylinder either from a boiler pump, a cistern fixed at a
higher lever than the cylinder, or from any other apparatus by which the requisite
pressure may be conveniently obtained. In machines for cutting, punching,
squeezing, stamping, and forging iron, steel, and other substances, we use a
strong lever supported on a fulcrum at or near to one end; this lever carries
in any convenient positions the blades, punches, or dies required for the work
to be done by them, the corresponding blades or dies being fixed to the framing
or bed plate of the machine; or the blades, punches, or dies may be fixed to
blocks moving in slides as in an ordinary punching and shearing machine, these
blocks being moved by the lever above named. The lever is moved by means
of a piston and cylinder connected to it and to the framing of the machine,
and actuated by steam or any other fluid. This cylinder may be either fixed
or oscillating, and may be made to work either single or double acting, and
its piston may be connected to any convenient point in the lever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Massey and Stephen Massey in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 13th December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, BENJAMIN
MASSEY and STEPHEN MASSEY, of Openshaw, near Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Benjamin Massey and Stephen Massey, Her special license

page_text: that we, the said Benjamin Massey and Stephen Massey, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Benjamin Massey
and Stephen Massey, our 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 HAMMERS AND OTHER MACHINES ACTUATED BY STEAM OR OTHER
FLUID OR VAPOUR," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Benjamin Massey and Stephen Massey, our executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their
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 calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Benjamin Massey and Stephen
Massey, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to the valves of hammers and other machines
actuated by steam or other fluid, and to the means used for moving and con-
trolling these valves. To the main valves of the cylinder (which may be
either of the kind known as the "double piston," or any other kind,) we
connect a piston fitted into a small cylinder, which piston being moved in the
manner hereafter described moves the main valves and thereby controls the
motion of the main piston of the hammer or other machine. The valves of
this small cylinder consist by preference of two slide valves moving upon a
facing in which are four ports, two of which lead to the ends of the cylinder,
and two into the exhaust pipe. Each slide valve covers one steam port and
one exhaust port, and the two valves move simultaneously. Each valve
is moved by means of a radius bar, or by a sliding lever, one end of which is
moved by the tup or other convenient part of the machine, and the fulcrum
of which is supported by an eccentric stud in the framing; the valves are
thus always in motion whilst the hammer or machine is in operation, and by
turning either or both of the eccentric studs, either or both of the slide valves
can be moved in relation to the ports which it covers so as to admit steam to
either end of the small cylinder at longer or shorter intervals of time, thereby
controlling the motion of the main valves and of the whole machine; or,

page_text: instead of using two radius bars or levers, one may be made to move both
valves by connecting them together by means of a screw or other arrange-
ment which permits of their positions in relation to one another being altered.
Instead of slide valves for the small cylinder double piston valves may be
used provided with the same adjustments. In the case of double piston
valves, instead of moving them nearer to or further from one another, they
may be made fast upon their spindle, and the casing in which they move may
be made in two pieces, capable of being moved longitudinally, which arrange-
ment will regulate the admission of steam to the small cylinder in the same
manner as if the pistons themselves were adjustable. For guiding and sup-
porting the tups of steam hammers in their fall we make facings upon the
back and front of the tup, which bear against corresponding facings madė
upon the insides of the binding plates which connect the two standards of the
hammer instead of guiding it by means of the grooves and projecting slides
commonly in use; the tup is then cased in by the standards and binding
plates on all sides and more effectively guided than by the method commonly
in use. In "helve" or "oliver" hammers we raise and depress the hammer
head by means of a cylinder and piston actuated by steam or any fluid. This
cylinder may be fixed either rigidly or upon centres so as to allow of
oscillation, and it may be either between the fulcrum and the hammer head,
or with the fulcrum between it and the hammer head, or with the hammer
head between it and the fulcrum. The valves are moved by means of a lever
supported at or near to one end, and carrying a stud at or near the other
end, which is connected with and moved by the head of the piston rod or the
hammer helve, and is adjustable as to its distance from the fulcrum. By
moving this stud nearer to or further from the fulcrum the traverse of the.
valve may be increased or reduced in proportion to the travel of the hammer
head, and by this means the lift and fall of the hammer can be regulated;
or, the stud may be disconnected from the piston rod or helve and connected
to a lever moveable by the foot, by means of which the hammer may be
worked to give a single blow, and this lever is so arranged that when the
hammer is stopped, it shall stop either at the bottom or top of its stroke, or
at any other point that may be desired. We make the fulcrum of the helve
moveable either in a straight line or an arc of a circle, or in any other curve
that the nature of the work to be done by the hammer requires, employing
'for the purpose of guiding the fulcrum either slides, parallel motion, or radius
rods. We move and support the fulcrum by means of a cylinder and piston
actuated by steam, water, or any other fluid, which is admitted to the
cylinder either from a boiler pump, a cistern fixed at a higher level than the

page_text: cylinder, or from any other apparatus by which the requisite pressure may be
conveniently obtained. In machines for cutting, punching, squeezing,
stamping, and forging iron, steel, and other substances, we use a strong lever
supported on a fulcrum at or near to one end; this lever carries in any con-
venient position the blades, punches, or dies required for the work to be done
by them, the corresponding blades or dies being fixed to the framing or bed
plate of the machine, or the blades, punches, or dies may be fixed to blocks
moving in slides as in an ordinary punching and shearing machine, these
blocks being moved by the lever above named; the lever is moved by means
of a piston and cylinder connected to it and to the framing of the machine,
and actuated by steam or any fluid. This cylinder may be either fixed or
oscillating, and may be made to work either single or double acting, and its
piston may be connected to any convenient point of the lever.
These improvements will be clearly understood by the following complete
description thereof, reference being had to the figures and letters on the
accompanying four Sheets of Drawings, in which Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a partial
side elevation of an overhanging steam hammer with our improved valves and
mechanism attached, Fig. 2 a sectional elevation, and Fig. 3 a back eleva-
tion of the same, and Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, Sheet 2, are enlarged views
of the details of the valves. In Figs. 2, 4, and 5, the main valve A is con-
nected by means of the spindle B with the piston C, fitted into the cylinder D.
Steam is admitted to the ends of the cylinder alternately through the ports
E and F, communicating with the steam chest G, which is itself supplied by
means of the small pipe H, communicating with the main steam chest I.
The face of the small steam chest G has, in addition to the two steam ports E
and F, two other ports, J and K, opening into the small exhaust pipe L,
which communicates with the main exhaust pipe M. The ports E, F, J, K, are
covered by two small slide valves N and O, each of which covers one steam
port and its corresponding exhaust port. The valves N and O are connected
by means of the spindles P and Q, and the connecting rods R and S with the
radius levers T and U, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3; these radius levers rise
and fall with the tup V, being connected with it by means of the slides W
and X. The rods R and S are connected with the radius levers T and U at
a short distance from their fulcrums. It will be seen that by this means the
valves N and O partake to a small extent of the motion of the tup V, always
moving when it is moving; it will also be seen that the valves N and O rise
and fall simultaneously. The radius rods T and U are supported by the
eccentric studs Y and Z, which are fitted into bearings A¹ and B¹, formed in
the framing of the hammer. To the eccentric studs Y and Z are attached

page_text: levers C¹ and D', by moving which the fulcrums of the radius rods T and U
can be raised or lowered. Suppose now that it is desired to set the valves in
such a manner as shall cause the hammer to work self-acting, in the shortest
stroke of which it is capable; to do this the valves N and O must be set in
such a position relative to one another that they merely cover the steam
ports E and F without any lap as shewn in Fig. 4, Sheet 2. Suppose that
they are in this position when the tup V is in the centre of its fall; when the
tup has fallen through a short distance the valve O will have uncovered its
steam port F, and the steam will enter the top of the small cylinder D, and
depress the piston C, and with it the main valve A; the steam will now enter
the large cylinder below the piston, and will lift it and the tup V. The
upward motion of the tup causes the valves N and O also to ascend, until the
valve N has uncovered its steam port E, when the steam enters the small
cylinder D beneath the piston C, and again raises the main valve A, when
the steam enters the main cylinder above the piston and forces it and the
tup V downwards again. The length of the strokes given by the tup is
regulated by the positions relatively to one another of the valves N and O.
In the case just supposed, when the hammer is required to run its shortest
stroke they are set so as merely to cover the ports E and F without any lap;
but it will be obvious that if the eccentric stud Y is depressed, and Z raised,
the valves N and O will be made to overlap their ports E and F, so that the
tup V must rise and fall through a greater distance than before in order to
admit steam to the opposite ends of the small cylinder D alternately, and thus
have the direction of its motion reversed. The extent to which the valves
are made to overlap the ports is regulated by the positions of the hand
levers C and D. The valves N and O may when preferred be made of the
piston form, in which case they may both be fixed upon the same spindle, the
distance between them being then unalterable, and the lengths of the strokes
being also unalterable, or they may be fixed upon separate spindles adjustable
like those of the slide valves shewn; or they may be fixed immoveably upon
one spindle as shewn in Fig. 9, Sheet 2, and the casing A in which they
move, and in which are cut the small ports opening into the cylinder, may be
made of two pieces, the upper one a, being moveable longitudinally by means
of the spindle B. By adjusting the position of the casing a; and by raising
or lowering the valve spindle C by means of the eccentric stud previously
described, the same effect can be produced as if both valves were separate
and adjustable as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; 7, and 8.
Fig. 10, Sheet 3, is a side elevation of our helve or Oliver steam hammer.

page_text: K is the steam cylinder which is mounted upon trunnions (one of which is
seen at L), to allow of oscillation; M is the hammer head, which is fitted
upon the radial arm N, the fulcrum of which is at D, and is connected to
the piston rod F of a bydraulic cylinder G, shewn in dotted lines; H is a
small force pump which is worked by the hand lever I. That part of the
framing of the hammer in which the hydraulic cylinder G and the pump H
are fixed is a cistern which is kept partially full of water or other fluid; J is
an index lever attached to the regulating valve of the hydraulic cylinder G.
By means of this valve communication can be opened or closed between the
pump H and the top or bottom of the cylinder G. If the valve is open to
the bottom of the cylinder and water or other fluid is forced into it by the
pump H, the fulcrum D will be raised, or if the valve is open to the top of
the cylinder and the pump is put into action, the fulcrum D will be depressed,
or if the valve: is closed altogether the fulcrum D will be retained in its
existing position. The slidės 12, 1%, between which the fulcrum D moves,
may be made either straight as shewn in the Drawing, or they may be made
of a curved form, or they may be dispensed with altogether, and the fulcrum
may then be guided by means of radius rods as indicated by the dotted centre
line C, D, in which C is the centre, round which the radius rods C, D, move,
the fulcrum D in this case moving through the arc A, B. In either of these
cases the bydraulic cylinder G is fixed upon trunnions to allow of oscillation.
E is the lever by which the valve of the steam cylinder is moved, the lengths
of the strokes given by the hammer head M being controlled by the position
of the stud O, by which this lever is connected with the rod P, and by the
positions of the nuts Q, Q, Q, Q. If the rod P is removed and the lever E
is connected with the foot lever R by means of the rod S, the hammer will
then not work self-acting, but when left to itself with the steam stop valve
open it will ascend to the top of its lift, and remain in that position until the
lever R is depressed; this depression admits the steam above the piston of
the cylinder K, and causes the hammer head M to descend upon the anvil,
and to remain in this position until the lever R is released and lifted by the
action of the weight T, when the hammer head again ascends.
Fig. 11, Sheet 3, represents a side elevation of our machine for bar cutting
or shearing, also applicable to squeezing and stamping. A and B are blades
attached to the lever C on opposite sides of the fulcrum D. The lever C is
connected at the point E with the piston rod F of the oscillating cylinder G,
and receives its motion directly from it. Instead of the blades A, B, being
attached to the lever C they may be fitted upon blocks moving in slides as in

page_text: ordinary punching and shearing machines, the motion being in either case
derived from the lever C. When the machine is required for stamping or
forging, instead of the blades A, B, dies of suitable form and size for the work
to be stamped may be applied.
Figs. 12 and 13, Sheet 4, shew parts of a steam hammer with our arrange
ments for guiding and supporting the tup. Fig. 12 is an elevation, and
Fig. 13 a sectional plan of the parts referred to; A, A, are the side frames
or standards; B is the tup, and C, C, are the binding plates connecting the
side frames A, A. Instead of guiding the tup by means of slides projecting
from the side frames into corresponding grooves in the tup, or by slides pro-
jecting from the tup into corresponding grooves in the side frames, which are
the methods usually adopted, we make facings a, a, a, a, upon the tup,
which bear against corresponding facings b, b, b, b, upon the binding plates,
the tup being thus supported on all sides by the side frames and binding
plates.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be under-
stood that we claim in hammers and other machines actuated by steam or
other fluid or vapour.
First, the arrangements of the valves N and O, the ports E, F, J, and K,
and the eccentric studs Y and Z, as represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
and 9, whether applied to control the motions of the small piston C, or
applied directly to the admission of steam or other fluid into the main
cylinder.
Secondly, in helve or Oliver hammers, the arrangement of the cylinder G
and the pump H as shewn in Fig. 10, Sheet 3, for raising, depressing, and fixing
the fulcrum, whether the cylinder G is fixed or oscillating; the radius rods
and curved slides A, B, C, D; the foot lever R as applied to any valve
motions other than self-acting, either of helve hammers or of hammers or
machines of other forms and the self-acting motion as shewn.
'
Thirdly, in machines for cutting, punching, and stamping, the arrangements
shewn in Sheet 3, Fig. 11, and herein-before described, whether the cylinder
G is oscillating or fixed.
Fourthly, the arrangement shewn in Sheet 4 for guiding and supporting
the tups of hammers as a substitute for the methods hitherto in use.
And, fifthly, we claim any of the above arrangements, whether applied
separately or conjointly, and whether applied to hammers or machines of the
forms represented, or of any other forms, and whether actuated by steam or
'

page_text: any other fluid, as all such improvements are herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying four Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Massey, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Benjamin Massey; have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Stephen Massey, in
the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
STEPHEN MASSEY. (L.B.)