Improvements in Hydraulic Presses for Forging, Swaging, and like Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification. Left, 11th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Presses for Forging, Swaging, and like
Purposes.
I, GEORGE HOOKHAM, of Nos. 7 and 8 New Bartholomew Street, in the City
of Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to hydraulic presses intended for swaging, forging and like
purposes, and its object is to produce a press capable of delivering rapid con-
secutive blows or nips of great force while absorbing the minimum of motive
power.
The invention consists of a hydraulic ram operated on its working stroke by
hydraulic pressure generated by a small plunger or ram driven from a crank and
returned to its starting position proferably by an arrangement of levers driven
from the said crank shaft or by a spring, a constant hydraulic head, a double acting
hydraulic plunger or by the vacuum caused by the ascent of the single acting
plunger or other convenient equivalent method.
In carrying my invention into effect as applied to a swaging press intended to
swage down tube from a thicker tubular mass and to swage out the said tube to a
suitable length I construct and arrange a machine as follows:-
I arrange a strong open ended vertical hydraulic cylinder with a suitable
hydraulic ram inserted from below and I couple the cylinder by four bosses or
projecting brackets and strong pillars or press bars to a powerful base also having
suitable lugs or bosses to receive the pillars. The base carries the anvil or die
block and the upper forging or swaging tool is carried by the hydraulic ram.
Suitable facings are provided together with suitable screw or other attachments of
known construction for attaching and adjusting the swaging or forging tools.
Above the hydraulic cylinder and upon it I mount a crosshead guide and franie
carrying and operating a plunger, which plunger passes through the upper part of
the hydraulic cylinder. The plunger is provided with a gland and leather of
usual construction and it projects directly into the interior of the hydraulic
cylinder, a suitable recess or hollow being formed in the upper or internal end of
the ram to allow the plunger to operate freely and to allow the liquid displaced to
flow freely and rapidly. By this device I secure the absolutely free flow of the
liquid displaced by the plunger and avoid any resistances set up by the movement
of the liquid through pipes or passages such as occur in hydraulic apparatus of
ordinary construction.
The plunger is operated from an overhead crank carried by plummer blocks in
the frame and the overhead crank drives by a connecting rod connecting to a
suitably guided cross head. The whole crank frame and overhead guide are
preferably cast in one piece and bolted by a powerful flange to a suitable facing on
the upper part of the hydraulic cylinder. The crank shaft carries preferably two
fly wheels and is driven by belt power, a steam or other cylinder however may be
attached to operate the plunger.
The working, stroke is given when the plunger descends and whenever the
swaging or forging tool encounters resistance the pressure within the hydraulic
cylinder increases to overcome that resistance. The increase of pressure as the
crank crosses its down centre may be very great if the resistance to the descent of
the ram be great. The weight of the fly wheels and the speed of rotation of the
crank shaft determine the energy stored up.and the pressures which can be brought
to bear. The ram is thus forced downwards by the insertion of the plunger within
the liquid mass in the hydraulic cylinder; when the plunger is withdrawn a partial

page_text: vacuum is caused in the hydraulic cylinder, and the plunger tends to rise, but I
preferably raise it by links connected to the cross head pin or other moving part
with levers so arranged as to reduce the motion of the ram to the necessary extent.
The ram is thus raised mechanically to its upper position; the links and levers
may operate a cam or cams to raise the ram as required.
A spring, weight or other device may also be adopted to raise the ram.
To cause the rotation of the tube or circular bar to be swaged and to cause its
gradual and regular.advance under the swaging tools I operate an oscillating clutch
from the link, lifting the ram so that when the ram rises the tube or circular bar
is gripped, rotated to a certain extent and advanced sufficiently for the next blow
or nip. This is accomplished by a brake gripper similar to the well known silent
feed used for moving the table of wood sawing machinery, and as the gripper
oscillates it moves in a screwed recess which causes the advance. On the return
stroke, that is, the working stroke of the swaging tool the gripper releases and
moves. back on its screw thence ready to grip and advance at the next upward
stroke.
To prevent the application of undue pressure to the ram which would endanger
the machine, I apply a spring loaded accumulator ram of small section with .a
sufficient travel; and I also arrange a spring loaded valve preferably carried in
the external head of the accumulator ram, loaded to such pressure that the cylinder
is.relieved in the event of the application of a predetermined pressure. I also
arrange a small suction valve opening inwards to the hydraulic cylinder from a
chamber or liquid reservoir, so that if leakage should occur then vacuum caused
by the ascent of the plunger when the ram is retained at the upward limit of its
stroke by the lifting linkage, draws into the cylinder a further supply of liquid
sufficient to make good the leakage. I thus secure the uniformity of the position
of the stroke of the ram.
Water or other liquid may be used in, the hydraulic cylinder but I preferably
use oil. The usual arrangement of leathors, caps and joints are adopted for
packing the ram and jointing up.
In a press constructed in accordance with the foregoing description I find an
11 inch ram, with a stroke of about inch to be conveniently operated by a plunger
of 2 inches diameter and 8 inclies stroke and to be capable of giving a nip or blow
of 250 tons pressure. Instead of using an accumulator or safety valve to limit
the hydraulic pressure applied to the cylinder I may connect the fly wheels to the
crank shaft by friction clutches which slip at a predetermined pressure or by spring
gear for the same purpose.
The press may be used for punching or cutting purposes and a short stroke may
still be applied to the ram by arranging a movable feed to raise the metal to be
punched or cut to the punch or cutting tool; this may be effected by a hydraulic
cylinder or by screw feed.
The machine may be applied for heading cartridges and other like
where a powerful but regulated squeeze is required.
Dated this 11th day of October 1892.
purposes
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham; Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Presses for Forging, Swaging, and like
Purposes.
I, GEORGE HOOKHAM, of Nos. 7 and 8 New Bartholomew Street, in the City 5
of Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-.
My invention relates to hydraulic presses intended for swaging, forging and like

page_text: purposes, and its object is to produce a press capable of delivering rapid consecutive
blows or nips of great force while absorbing the minimum of motive power.
The invention consists of a hydraulic ram operated on its working stroke by
hydraulic pressure generated by a small plunger or ram driven from a crank and
returned to its starting position preferably by an arrangement of levers driven
from the said crank shaft or by a spring or weight.
Referring to the four accompanying sheets of drawings:-
Figuro 1 is a vertical section of my new hydraulic forging press.
Figure 2 is an end elevation corresponding to Figure 1.
Figuro 3 is a transverse vertical section of my pressure gauge accumulator and
safety and feed valve.
Figure 4 is a section at right angles to that shown in Figure 3. Figures 3 and 4
are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 1 through a modified machine showing a
screw adjustment and a spring return for the ram.
In carrying my invention into effect as applied to a swaging press intended to
Bwage down tube from a thicker tubular mass and to swage out the said tube to a
suitable length I construct and arrange a machine as follows:-
I arrange a strong open ended vertical hydraulio cylinder B (Figures 1 and 2)
with a suitable hydraulic ram A inserted from below and I couple the cylinder B
by four bosses C or projecting brackets and strong pillars E or press bars to a
powerful base D also having suitable lugs or bosses to receive the said pillars.
The base D carries the anvil or die block as D' Figure 2 and the upper forging
or swaging tool is carried by the hydraulic ram. A. Suitable facings are provided
together with suitable screw or other attachments of known construction for attaching
and adjusting the swaging or forging tools. A socket such as A' may act as the
tool holder.
Above the hydraulic cylinder B and upon it I mount a cross head guide and
frame G carrying and operating a plunger F, which plunger F passes through the
upper part of the hydraulic cylinder B. The plunger is provided with a gland and
leather of usual construction and it projects directly into the interior of the hydraulic
cylinder, a suitable recess or hollow A being formed in the upper or internal end of
the ram A. to allow the plunger F to operate freely and to allow the liquid displaced
to flow freely and rapidly. By this device I secure the absolutely free flow of the
liquid displaced by the plunger F and avoid any resistances set up by the movement
of the liquid through pipes or passages such as occur in hydraulic, apparatus of
ordinary construction.
The plunger is operated from an overhead crank H carried by plummet blocks or
bearings in the frame G and the overhead crank drives by a connecting rod I
connecting to a suitably guided crosshead J. The frame and overhead guide G
are preferably cast in one piece and bolted by a powerful flange as G¹ to a suitable
facing on the upper part of the cylinder B. The crank shaft H carries preferably
two By wheels QQ and is driven by belt power; a steam or other cylinder however
may be attached to operate the crank shaft.
The working stroke is given when the plunger F descends and whenever the swaging
or forging tool encounters resistance the pressure within the hydraulic cylinder B
increases to overcome that resistance. The increase of pressure as the crank H
crosses its down centre may be very great if the resistance to the descent of the ram A
be great. The weight of the fly wheels and the speed of rotation of the crank shaft
determine the energy stored up and the pressure which can be brought to bear.
The ram is thus forced downwards by the insertion of the plunger F within the
liquid mass in the hydraulic cylinder; when the plunger is withdrawn a partial
vacuum is caused in the hydraulic cylinder and the ram tends to rise, but I
preferably raise it by links M M connected to the cross-head pin J or other
moving part with levers so arranged as to reduce the motion. of the ram to the
necessary extent. The ram is thus raised mechanically to its upper position; the
links and levers may operate a cam or cams to raise the ram as required. Such

page_text: an. arrangement is shown at Figures 1 and 2.
The links M M connected to the
crosshead pin Joperate the lever M¹ by the pin M; the lever M' is carried by
the way shaft M' and is keyed to it so that the shaft M' is oscillated by it. A cam N
is keyed to the shaft M and it acts on a roller O carried by levers 00' which
levers pivot at O'. The cam thus reciprocates the said levers and the cam is so
shaped that the levers O' are given a motion of reciprocation which copies
accurately on a reduced scale the motion of reciprocation of the plunger F. The
levers O hold up the ram A by projecting pins A³ and raise the ram to its upper
limit. A spring or weight may also be adopted to raise the ram.
To cause
the rotation of the tube or circular bar to be swaged and to cause its gradual
and regular advance under the swaging tools I operate an oscillating clutch from
the links M lifting the ram so that when the ram rises the tube or circular bar
is gripped, rotated to a certain extent and advanced sufficiently for the next blow
or nip. This is accomplished by a brake gripper similar to the well known
silent feed used for moving the table of wood sawing machinery, and as the gripper
oscillates it moves in a screwed recess which causes the advance. On the return
stroke, that is, the working stroke of the swaging tool the gripper releases and moves
back on its screw ready to grip and advance at the next upward stroke. The link P
operates the gripper.
The position of the gripper is indicated at E Figure 2.
To prevent the application of undue pressure to the ram which would endanger
the machine, I apply a spring loaded accumulator ram K of small section with a
sufficient travel and I also arrange a spring loaded valve E Figure 3 preferably
carried in the external head of the accumulator ram, loaded to such pressuro that
the cylinder is relieved in the event of the application of a predetermined pressure.
The accumulator ram K is shown at Figures 1 and 2 but it is drawn on a larger
scale in section at Figures 3 and 4 which figures also show clearly the supply reservoir
and the oil feed.
I also arrange a small suction valve T opening inwards to the hydraulic cylinder
from a chamber L or liquid reservoir, so that if leakage should occur then vacuum
caused by the ascent of the plunger F, when the ram is retained at the upward limit
of its stroke by the lifting linkage, draws into the cylinder a further supply of liquid
sufficient to make good the leakage. I thus secure the uniformity of the position of
the stroke of the rain. The plunger K and the valve T communicate with the
cylinder B by the passage B1 (Figure 1).
The accumulator ram K is preferably of steel and it connects to a strong cross-
head Khaving lugs formed on it to receive springs R R. The height of the
crosshead K on its guides K' serves to indicate the pressure acting on the ram
as the springs R R resists the upward movement of the ram. A convenient
scale K may be arranged to indicate the pressure. The ram K and its connections
are carried in the strong casting K which is firmly bolted to the hydraulic
oylinder B. The safety valve S is loaded by the spring 8' which is adjusted by
the screw cap S".
When the hydraulic pressure exceeds the determined limit the valve S rises and
oil or liquid is discharged into the hollow interior of the crosshead K'and thence by
the pipe S to the reservoir or oil chamber L.
Water or other liquid may be used in the hydraulic cylinder but I preferably use
oil. The usual arrangement of leathers, caps and joints are adopted for packing the
ram and jointing up.
In a press constructed in accordance with the foregoing description I find an
11 inch ram with a stroke of about inch to be conveniently operated by a
plunger of 2 inches diameter and 8 inches stroke to be capable of giving a nip
or blow of 250 tons pressure repeated at the rate of 150 times per minute.
Instead of using an accumulator or safety valve to limit the hydraulic pressure
applied to the cylinder I may connect the fly wheels to the crank shaft by
friction clutches which slip at a predetermined pressure or by spring gear for the
same purpose.

page_text: The press may be used for punching or cutting purposes and a short stroke may
still be applied to the ram by arranging a movable feed to raise the metal to be
punched or cut to the punch or cutting tool. This may be effected by a hydraulio
cylinder or by sorew feed. A screw feed arrangement for this purpose is shown at
Figure 5 where U is the screw operated by the wheel U' and carrying the advancing
or rising die U
Figure 5 also illustrates a method of raising the ram A by a spring. Here the
ram moves up against a fixed stop which limits its upward movement and the levers O¹
are operated by the spring V. A weight may be substituted. The machine may
be applied for hending cartridges and other like purposes where a powerful but
regulated squeeze is required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A
1. In a hydraulic swaging or forging machine-a mechanically operated plunger
displacing liquid to operate a hydraulic ram on the pressure or working stroke, com-
bined with linkage actuated from a moving part such as the crosshead which linkage
returns the hydraulic ram as the said plunger retreats, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
2. In a hydraulic swaging or forging machine-a mechanically operated plunger
displacing liquid to operate a hydraulic ram on the pressure or working stroke,
combined with a spring or weight device which returns the hydraulic ram as the
said plunger retreats, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3. In a hydraulic swaging or forging machine-with a hydraulic ram operated
as claimed in the preceding claims; a liquid supply valvo opening from a reser-
voir to the interior of the hydraulic cylinder to supply leakage at each stroke
and keep the stroke of the ram coustant, substantially as herein set forth.
4. In a hydraulic awaging or forging machine, a spring accumulator to regulate
and sustain pressure substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
5. In a hydraulic swaging, forging, cutting or punching machine as horeinbefore
described, a screw device as Figure or an equivalent hydraulic lifting ram to
raise the work to meet the swaging, forging, cutting or punching tool substantially
as herein set forth.
6. A hydraulic swaging or forging machine arranged and operating substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of August 1893.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.