IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES FOR COTTON AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRESSES FOR COTTON AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES." A communication from
abroad by Samuel H. Gilman, of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of
America
Sealed the 21st December 1877, and dated the 16th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Jobuson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October 1877.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES FOR COTTON AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES.'
A communication from abroad by Samuel H. Gilman, of New Orleans, Louisiana,
United States of America.
This Invention relates more particularly to that class of cumulative power presses
known as the "Tyler" press, or other presses of similar construction, extensively
used for compressing cotton or like substances, wherein a piston working in an open
top cylinder is provided with a rack or piston rod, which moves up and down
between the arcs of two toothed sectors, the lower platen or channel plate of the
press being attached to the sectors by lifting rods or levers, while the upper channel
plate forms the main bed plate and supports the main cylinder.
The nature of this Invention consists,
-
First. In the combination of a reversing steam cylinder or cylinders with a com-
pressing steam cylinder and a press adapted for pressing cotton and like substances,
whereby the return of the rack and sectors, and the follower, to their normal
position as soon as the pressing is performed, and the steam pressure withdrawn
from the pressing piston, is effected by steam pressure brought to bear directly upon
either the sectors or the rack.
Secondly. Of an arrangement of valves whereby the exhaust steam from the

page_text: compressing cylinder is used for working the cylinder or cylinders, which reverse the
movement of the rack and sectors.
In carrying out this Invention as applied to a Tyler press, an open top steam
cylinder is employed, which is supported upon an upper channel platen within the
main frame of the press, the rod of its piston being provided with a rack on its
upper end.
Toothed sectors are pivoted to hangers attached to the upper portion
of the frame of the press, which sectors engage with the rack of the piston so as to
receive motion therefrom in one direction, and impart motion to it in the opposite
direction.
Lifting rods or levers are pivoted at their upper ends to the sectors, and at their
lower ends to the lower platen or channel plate, by which the said lower platen or
plate is brought to bear against the substance to be pressed, which is between it
and the upper platen when the sectors are moved back to their fullest extent, and
the piston and rack raised. Auxiliary steam cylinders are employed for reversing
the movement of the main piston, its rack, and the sectors of the press. Each of
these cylinders is constructed with a piston and piston rod, which latter are about
double the length of the cylinders and work through both ends thereof. On the
ends of the said piston rods, next to the sectors, friction rollers are provided, which
bear against the plain backs of the sectors, and by the action of steam on the
pistons cause these sectors to return the rack and main piston to their original-
starting position. On the opposite ends of the piston rods caps are provided to
prevent the striking of the pistons against the heads of the cylinders. The said
auxiliary cylinders are provided with exhaust pipes, whereby the steam is permitted
to pass out when the piston and its connections are fully reversed.
A steam chest is employed of suitable size and form, constructed with three valve
chambers and passages, and with valves for closing the said passages between the
valve chambers. The supply valve chamber is provided with an inlet port, through
which steam is admitted to the main cylinder from a main supply pipe leading
from the boiler. The exhaust valve chain ber is also provided with an outlet port,
through which the exhaust steam from the main cylinder passes to enter the
auxiliary exhaust pipes for moving the pistons of the reversing cylinders, and the
exhaust passage of the exhaust valve chamber receives the remaining exhaust steam
from the main cylinder, and discharges it through a main exhaust pipe after the
press has been reversed. The valves have long stems which pass through
the bottom of the steam chest, in order to be operated separately by a trip or
tappet lever, which is pivoted to a projection of the main frame. This lever acts
upon the stems of the valves, and causes them to be open and close the passages of the
valve chambers as required. The stem of the valve of the last chamber is made
shorter than that of the valve of the second chamber, in order that it shall not be
raised until the exhaust steam has passed into the auxiliary cylinders and effected
the return movement of the main piston and its connections.
The tappet lever is made sufficiently long on one end, and has the requisite
range of movement for raising the valve of the last chamber and allowing the
surplus steam to escape after the valve of the second chamber has been raised.
The connection of the auxiliary steam cylinders with the steam chest and the
main cylinder of the press is effected by means of branch exhaust pipes leading to
a union valve chamber on top of the steam chest, the said union chamber being
provided with a check valve, by which the exhaust steam from the main cylinder,
after entering the branch exhaust pipes, is prevented from flowing back.
The steam power for reversing the motion of the rack and sectors may be applied
to the top of the rack in lieu of to the backs of the sectors, and in such case one
large auxiliary cylinder only may be used.
It will be seen that by this Invention I am enabled with the use of steam power
to reverse the upward movement of the sectors, rack, and piston of a Tyler, or other
similarly operating cotton press, and force them inward and downward much quicker
than their own proper weight will cause them to descend after they have arrived
at their greatest upward limit of movement, and the steam pressure under the

page_text: piston relieved, and that the steam pressure for this purpose is obtained by
exhausting in part the steam from the main cylinder into the auxiliary
cylinders.
The apparatus operates in the following manner :-'
-The press having been placed
in a working position, with the piston rack and sectors down, steam is admitted
from the steam chest into the main cylinder by raising the tappet lever, thereby
operating the first valve, and permitting the steam to pass. through the inlet port
in the supply valve chamber to the main cylinder, thus actuating the piston rack
and sectors, and causing the lower platen or block which carries the substance to
be pressed to rise toward the stationary platen and perform the pressing
operation.
In order to reverse the movement of the press the tappet lever is depressed, and
the valves in the second or exhaust valve chamber thereby raised, and the exhaust
steam from the main cylinder permitted to pass into the union valve chamber,
whence it passes by raising the check valve from its seat into the exhaust branch
pipes and auxiliary cylinders, thus causing the press to be reversed ready for another
operation. When the press is again operated the pistons of the cylinders will be.
moved back to their original position by the sectors bearing against the friction
rollers of their rods.
It will be perceived that by this Invention a greater range of upward movement
of the main piston, rack, and sectors is made available than is practicable in presses
reversed in the ordinary way, viz., by their weight.
Although I have described this Invention as carried out with the use of steam
cylinders, it is obvious that one or other suitable motive fluid may be employed in
substitution for steam.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
April 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES FOR COTTON AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES."
A communication from abroad by Samuel H. Gilman, of New Orleans, Louisiana,
United States of America.
My Invention relates more particularly to that class of cumulative power presses
known as the "Tyler" press, or other presses of similar construction, extensively
used for compressing cotton or like substances, wherein a piston working in an open
top cylinder is provided with a rack or piston rod, which moves up and down
between the arcs of two toothed sectors, the lower platen or channel plate of the
press being attached to the said sectors by lifting rods or levers, whilst the upper
channel plate forms the main bed plate and supports the main cylinder.
My Invention consists,―
First. In the combination of a reversing steam cylinder or cylinders with a com-
pressing steam cylinder and a press adapted for pressing cotton and like substances,
whereby the return of the rack and sectors and the lower platen or channel plate to
their normal position as soon as the pressing is performed, and the steam pressure
withdrawn from the pressing piston, is effected by steam pressure brought to bear
directly upon either the sectors or the rack.
Secondly. Of an arrangement of valves whereby the exhaust steam from the
compressing cylinder is used for working the cylinder or cylinders which reverse the
movement of the rack and sectors.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a side elevation and partial section of a Tyler
press with the improvements which form the subject of my Invention applied
thereto; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the same; Figure 3 is an end elevation
and partial section of the same with a portion of the main frame assumed to have
been broken away.
Figure 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating another mode of operating the rack
and sectors of the press.
A is a steam cylinder, open at the top, within which cylinder works a piston B
having a rod b provided with a rack 6' on its upper end. This cylinder is sup-
ported upon the upper platen or channel plate C³ within the main frame A¹ of the
press, to the upper portion of which frame are attached hangers C¹ having pivotted
thereto at e toothed sectors C which engage with the rack 6 of the piston B.
D, D, are lifting rods or levers pivotted at their upper ends to the sectors, and at
their lower ends to the lower platen or channel plate C², by which the said lever
platen or plate C is brought to bear against the substance to be pressed, which is
between it and the upper platen C³, when the sectors are moved back to their fullest
extent and the piston and rack raised; F, F, are auxillary steam cylinders employed
for reversing the movement of the main piston B, its rack, and the sectors of the
press. Each of these cylinders is constructed with a piston G and piston rod H,
which latter are about double the length of the cylinders and work through both
ends thereof. On the ends of the said piston rods, next to the sectors, there are
fitted friction rollers g which bear against the plain backs of the sectors, and by
the action of steam on the pistons G, G, cause such sectors to return the rack and
main piston B to their original starting position, whilst the opposite ends of the
piston rods H are provided with caps g' for the purpose of preventing the pistons
from striking against the heads of the cylinders. The said auxiliary cylinders are

page_text: provided with exhaust pipes h whereby the steam is permitted to pass out when the
piston G and its connections are fully reversed.
M is a steam chest, of suitable size and form, constructed with valve chambers m,
m', m², and passages n, n', n³, and with valves 'p, p¹, p², for closing the said passages
between the valve chambers. The supply valve chamber m is provided with an
inlet port q, through which steam is admitted to the main cylinder from the main
supply pipe N leading from the boiler. The exhaust valve chamber m' is also pro-
vided with an outlet port q¹ through which the exhaust steam from the main
cylinder passes to enter the auxiliary exhaust pipes for moving the pistons of the
reversing cylinders, and the exhaust passage of the exhaust valve chamber m²
receives the remaining exhaust steain from the main cylinder and discharges it
through a main exhaust pipe P after the press has been reversed. The valves p, p¹, p²,
have long stems, which pass through the bottom of the steam chest in order to be
operated separately by a trip or tappet lever P, which is pivotted, at r to a pro-
jection 8 of the main frame. This lever acts upon the stems of the valves p, p¹, p²,
and causes them to open and close the passages n, n', n², of the valve chambers as
required. The stem of the valve p² is made shorter than that of the valve p' in
order that it shall not be raised until the exhaust steain has passed into the pipes I
and cylinders F, F, and effected the return movement of the main piston and its
connections.
The tappet lever is made sufficiently long on one end, and has the requisite range
of movement for raising the valve p², and allowing the surplus steam to escape after
the valve p¹ has been raised.
The communication of the auxiliary steam cylinders F, F, with the steain chest M
and the main cylinder of the press is effected by means of branch exhaust pipes I, I,
connected with a union valve chamber K on top of the steam chest, the said union
chamber being provided with a check valve k, by which the exhaust steam from
the main cylinder, after entering the branch exhaust pipes, is prevented from flowing
back.
The steam power for reversing the motion of the rack and sectors may be applied
to the top of the rack, as shewn in Figures 4, in lieu of to the backs of the sectors,
in which case one large cylinder similar to one of those F, but arranged centrally,
may be substituted for the two cylinders F, F, of the preceding arrangement.
It will be seen by my Invention I am enabled with the use of steam power to
reverse the upward movement of the sectors, rack, and piston of a Tyler or other
similarly operating cotton press, and force them inwards and downwards much
quicker than their own proper weight, will cause them to descend after they
have arrived at their greatest upward limit of movement, and the steam pressure
under the piston has been relieved, and that the steam pressure for this purpose is
obtained by exhausting in part the steam from the main cylinder into the auxiliory
cylinders.
The apparatus operates in the following manner :-The press having been placed
in a working position, with the piston rack and sectors down, steam is admitted from
the steam chest M into the main cylinder A by raising the tappet lever R, thereby
operating the valve p, and permitting the steam to pass through the inlet port q in
the supply valve chamber m to the main cylinder A, thus actuating the piston rack
and sectors, and causing the lower platen C which carries the substance to be
pressed to rise towards the stationary platen C³, and perform the pressing
operation.
In order to reverse the movement of the press the tappet lever R is depressed, and
the valve p¹ in the exhaust valve chamber m' thereby raised, and the exhaust steam
steam from the main cylinder A permitted to pass into the union valve chamber K,
whence it flows (raising the check valve from its seat into the exhaust branch
pipes I, I, and cylinders F, F, thus causing the press to be reversed, ready for another
operation, the exhaust steam from the cylinders F, F, passing out at h, h. When
the press is again operated the pistons of the cylinders F, F, will be moved back

page_text: to their original position by the sectors bearing against the friction rollers of their
rods.
It will be perceived that by my Invention a greater range of upward movement
of the main piston rack and sectors is made available than is practicable in presses
reversed in the ordinary way, videlicet, by their weight.
Although I have described my Invention as carried out with the use of steam it
is obvious that any other suitable motive fluid may be employed in substitution for
steam.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and some modes of carrying the same into effect, I would observe in
conclusion that I do not lay claim to the use of one or two steam cylinders for
producing the pressing operation, but what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. A supplemental cylinder or cylinders, so located that the piston or pistons
thereof actuated by steam or other power shall move the sectors and rack of
the press in reversing the movement of the follower, substantially as herein-before
described.
Second. The arrangement of the valves p', 12, and k, whereby the exhaust
steam from the main cylinder is utilized for actuating the piston or pistons of the
supplemental cylinder or cylinders, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)