IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Grantham, of 31, Nicholas Lane, in the
City of London, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDRAULIC PRESSES."
Sealed the 10th July 1863, and dated the 18th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Grantham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
February 1868.
·I, JOHN GRANTHAM, of 31, Nicholas Lane, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HYDRAULIC PRESSES," to be as follows:---
The object of my Invention is to vary the amount of power given out by a
single ram in a hydraulic press although the pressure of water or other liquid
may be uniform.
The first part of my Invention relates to an arrangement by which the
power exerted by the ram is increased at a certain distance or distances
during the stroke, resulting in an economical process for packing or pressing
any material into a smaller bulk, and which requires less pressure at the com-
mencement than at the conclusion of the stroke, and especially useful where
an accumulator is employed.
In 'order to effect this object I construct both the ram and the cylinder in
which it works of two or more diameters, each of which is provided with a
packing of the ordinary kind. The ram has a telescopic shape but does not
slide within itself; its smallest diameter is first operated upon by the water
pressure, by which it is forced to a certain distance, when the next diameter
is also operated upon, giving an increased force, and so on to the next,
according to the number of gradations in the ram, the power being increased

page_text: The spaces
The spaces between
traverse of the ram
proportionately to the increased diameter of the ram.
those portions of the ram and cylinder formed during the
but not yet supplied with the high pressure, I fill up by means of a flow of
water at a low pressure from a pipe fitted up with a self-acting valve which
closes immediately the high pressure is turned on and prevents the water from
receding. For the purpose of turning on the water from the accumulator or
pumps to the increased diameter or diameters of the ram at the proper time
and distance of traverse, I arrange a pipe comunicating either direct with
the small end of the cylinder or with a supply pipe, and fit the same with a
stop valve and lever; this lever may be actuated in any convenient manner by
the traverse of the ram so as to set on the valve as required. Another con-
venient method for turning on the high pressure of water I effect by forming
holes or longitudinal or diagonal slots for a certain distance on the side of the
ram, so that when it has traversed such distance the water pressure may be
communicated past the packing from the smaller diameter of cylinder to the
next of larger size.
The second part of my Invention relates to an arrangement in which the
power exerted by the ram is greater at the commencement of the stroke than.
at the conclusion.
For this purpose I construct the ram of a telescopic form consisting of one
ram sliding within another of larger diameter but of less length, the external
ram sliding within a cylinder provided with a shoulder or stop. When the
pressure from the accumulator or force pump is applied, it operates upon and
actuates both the rams which traverse together a certain desired distance until
they arrive at the projection or stop, when the pressure actuates only the
internal ram, which, being of smaller diameter, exerts a diminished force and
requires less water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Grantham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GRANTHAM, of 31, Nicholas Lane, in the City of London, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: me, the said John Grantham, Her special licence, that I, the said John
Grantham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Grantham, my 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
HYDRAULIC PRESSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Grantham, 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 John Grantham, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of my Invention is to vary the amount of power given out by a
single ram in a hydraulic press, although the pressure of water or other liquid
may be uniform.
The first part of my Invention relates to an arrangement by which the
power exerted by the ram is increased at a certain distance or distances during
the stroke, resulting in an economical process for packing or pressing any
material into a smaller bulk, and which requires less pressure at the com-
mencement than at the conclusion of the stroke, and especially useful where
an accumulator is employed.
In order to effect this object I construct both the ram and cylinder in which
it works of two or more diameters, each of which is provided with a packing of
the ordinary kind. The ram has a telescopic shape but does not slide within
itself; its smallest diameter is first operated upon by the water pressure, by
which it is forced to a certain distance, when the next diameter is also operated
upon, giving an increased force, and so on to the next, according to the
number of gradations in the ram, the power being increased proportionately to
the increased diameter of the ram. The spaces between those portions of the
ram and cylinder formed during the traverse but not yet supplied with the
high pressure, I fill up by means of a flow of water at a low pressure from a
pipe fitted with a self-acting valve which closes immediately the high pressure is
turned on and prevents the water from receding. For the purpose of turning

page_text: on the water from the accumulator or pumps to the increased diameter or
diameters of the ram at the proper time and distance of traverse, I arrange a
pipe communicating either direct with the small end of the cylinder or with a
supply pipe, and fit the same with a stop valve and lever; this lever may be
actuated in any convenient manner by the traverse of the ram so as to set on
the valve as required. Another convenient method for turning on the high
pressure of water I effect forming holes or longitudinal or diagonal slots for
a certain distance on the side of the ram, so that when it has traversed such
distance the water pressure may be communicated past the packing from the
smaller diameter of cylinder to the next of larger size.
The second part of my Invention relates to an arrangement in which the
power exerted by the ram is greater at the commencement of the stroke than
at the conclusion.
For this purpose I construct the ram of a telescopic form, consisting of one
ram sliding within another of larger diameter but of less length, the external
ram sliding within a cylinder provided with a shoulder or stop. When the
pressure from the accumulator or force pump is applied it operates upon and
actuates both the rams, which traverse together a certain desired distance,
until they arrive at the projection or stop, when the pressure actuates only the
internal ram, which, being of smaller diameter, exorts. a diminished force and
requires less water.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I have attached
hereunto the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, similar letters of reference in
different Figures indicating corresponding parts.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, refer to the first part of my Invention, and Figure 1
is a vertical section of my improved press.
A, B, C, is the ram (cast hollow for economy), and having two different
diameters; D, E, is the cylinder with corresponding diameters. The part of
the ram at C is worked in the cylinder at D, and the part at B is worked in
the cylinder at E. A is the ordinary ram for the anvil; F is a pipe commu-
nicating to a well or cistern or low-pressure water supply; G is a self-acting
valve which allows water to enter the cylinder from the pipe F, but which
closes to prevent the water receding as soon as high pressure is applied; H is
a stop valve communicated by the pipe I to the high-pressure supply pipe J, K;
J communicating in the usual manner to the accumulator or force pump, and
K communicating with the small diameter of the cylinder D; L, M, is a lever
and rod with adjustable balance weights, and attached to the valve H; N is a
rod attached with the lift O to the ram, and by means of the slot at P
actuating the lever and opening the valve at the required distance of traverse.

page_text: Figure 2 is a top view, and Figure 3 is a sectional view of the line Q, R, in
Figure 1.
The process is as follows:-When the ram is at the top of the cylinder the
valve H is closed, the high pressure is set on to the cylinder at D, the ram is
forced onward, the low-pressure water filling up the space formed in the
cylinder at E. At a certain desired distance of the ram's traverse the rod N
moves the lever and opens the valve H, when immediately high pressure is
exerted in the cylinder at E as well as at D, closing the valve G, and exerting
an increased force on the ram proportionate to the larger diameter of the
part B.
Figures 4 and 5 refer to the second part of my Invention. Figure 4 is a
vertical section.
A' is the small ram; B', B', is the larger ram with a shoulder; it is hollow,
and fitted as a cylinder to allow the ram A' to work within it; C', C', is
the outer cylinder fitted to allow the ram B', B', to work within it; D', D', is
the stop attached to the cylinder C, C'; E' is the water supply; F is the
head to the ram A'; G', G', is the head to the ram B', B'; Figure 5 is a top
view of the apparatus. When the rams are at the base of the cylinder C', C',
the force of the water actuates both rams until the shoulder of B', B', impinges
upon the stop D', D', (which is the position shown in the Drawing,) when the
ram A', only is in action, and which slides within the cylinder B', B', the
head F separating from the head G', G'.
It is evident that respecting both parts of my Invention the gradations or
number of cylinders may be increased ad libitum, and I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth,
but I claim as my Invention the improvements in hydraulic presses, firstly,
for increasing the force of the ram at the latter portion of the stroke, and
secondly, for causing the ram to have more force at the commencement then
at the latter portion of the stroke, in the manner herein described and illus-
trated by the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Grantham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
HENRY FLETCHER,
Witness.
JOHN GRANTHAN. (L.B.)