IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM HAMMERS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Harvey, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM HAMMERS,"
Sealed the 25th June 1858, and dated the 2nd January 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Harvey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
January 1858.
I, ROBERT HARVEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM HAMMERS," to be as follows:-
My improvements-relate to novel adaptations of two or more piston rods
and cylinders in connection with and for the purpose of operating the hammer:
head. The cylinders may form part of the main framing or otherwise,: and.
are bored truly for the pistons, as in ordinary engines. The rods pass upwards
to a cross: head- or other suitable connection, from which descends a rod or
rods to the hammer head. The steam may be admitted only to the under side
of the pistons, and for the purpose of lifting the hammer head; or the
cylinders may have covers on their upper ends, and steam be admitted there to

page_text: increase the pressure exerted by the fall of the hammer. By this adaptation
of parts the whole lower surface of the pistons is acted upon by the steam,
when steam is admitted thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Harvey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th June 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
HARVEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Harvey, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
Harvey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or. such others. as I, the
said Robert Harvey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all. times there-
after 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
STEAM HAMMERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Robert Harvey, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of 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 I, the said Robert Harvey, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention; and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My inprovements relate to novel adaptations of two or more piston-röds
and cylinders in connection. with 'and for the purpose of operating the hammer
head. The cylinders may form part of the main framing or otherwise, and are
bored truly for the pistons as in ordinary engines. The rods pass upwards to

page_text: communicating with the cylinders, and which: can be shut or opened as may
be desired, by the screw attached thereto. In the same valve case another
valve is placed opening inward, and admitting the external air to prevent the
partial formation of a vacuum behind the pistons, which would obstruct the
more rapid descent of the hammer. The upper ports in the cylinders I prefer
to keep below the bottoms of the covers, about six inches, the air in which
space is compressed by the ascent of the pistons, preventing any injurious
shock upon the cylinder covers. The cylinders may, if desired, be without
covers, the hammer ram being in such case guided in a fixture between the
cylinders or otherwise as desired, and a check screw put upon the lifting of
the valve, so as to prevent more steam from getting in than is necessary to lift
the hammer without any shock.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation; Figure 2, side elevation; Figure
3, a ground plan with sole frame, of an arrangement of steam hammer ac-
cording to my improvements; Figure 4 is a sectional plan of the same;
exhibiting the valve casing with steam and exhaust pipes. In each of these
Figures the same letters indicate like parts wherever they occur. A, A, is
the side framing, in which are also formed the cylinders A¹, A¹, and hammer-
guides A, A, B is the hammer ram attached to the cross head C. D, D;
are the two piston rods descending to their respective pistons inside the
cylinders A', A¹. E is the steam, and F, the exhaust pipes; G, the casing
containing the valve by which the steam is admitted to and from the cylinders.
I have not thought it necessary to shew this valve separately, as it may be
only such as is ordinarily employed. H is the handle by which the valve in
the case G is operated upon; but I prefer that this valve be formed with a
stem projecting through the stuffing box, of such a size that its area subtracted
from the whole area of the valve exposed to the steam, keeps the valve open,
and thus lifts the hammer, the handle H being brought down by the person
in attendance when at the height desired. I is the anvil resting upon the
anvil block J; K,.the sole frame to which the cylinder frames are securely
fixed. Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 shew four similar views of a modification in the
method of carrying out my improvements. In this case, the cylinders and
parts connected thereto, are affixed to and supported by an entablature A³,
which is supported upon columns or standards A. Similar letters are employed
to indicate like parts to those already referred to wherever they occur.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
_confine myself to the precise details herein shewn and described, so long as the

page_text: peculiar character of my Invention be retained; but what I claim is, the mode
of arranging and combining parts forming a steam hammer operated by two
or more cylinders, the whole of the lower area of the pistons (of which is
exposed to the direct lifting action of the steam, substantially as herein explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Harvey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
ROBT COOK.
ROBERT HARVEY. (L.S.)