Improvements in Valves or Apparatus for Supplying Water to the Cylinders of Hydraulic Lifts, Hoists, Cranes, or other Hydraulic Machinery.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1594
Complete Specification Left. 12th July, 1895-Accepted, 17th Aug., 1895
TRYIDIONAL OPPTUATION.
Improvements in Valves or Apparatus for Supplying Water to the
Cylinders of Hydraulic Lifts, Hoists, Cranes, or other Hydraulic
Machinery.
I, JOHN CHARLES ETCHELLS, of Heaton Chapel, near Stockport in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
:-
This invention is designed to provide a valve or apparatus for automatically
supplying the power water to the cylinders of multiple cylinder bydraulic apparatus
where more than one cylinder is employed and brought into action according to the
load to be lifted.
It is primarily intended to be used with hydraulic hoists, lifts, and the like which
have two, three, or more cylinders and raus, the power for which is supplied at a
fixed pressure from the mains or from an accumulator or tank with the object being
that only sufficient water will be used to lift a given load and that the water
required to lift the load will be automatically directed or distributed to one, two, or
more cylinders as required to overcome the load at the time to be lifted.
The valve or apparatus is caused to work or is operated automatically to open
and close the ports leading to the several cylinders by the back pressure-or the
pressure caused by the resistance of the load upon the cylinders-acting on a
differential ram or plunger or upon a loaded valve which is moved or opened
a greater distance as the pressure or resistance is increased.
As applied to a three cylinder or three power hoist, lift or other apparatus
construct my improved distributing valve, with a central or other inlet port and
two outlet ports. These ports are preferably arranged one at either side of the
inlet port and are all covered with a slide valve of D or other convenient shape
which moves to and fro on a suitable seating provided over the ports. The slide
valve is of a shape and size to cover the inlet and one of the outlet ports and
capable of being moved so as to clear both outlet ports or to bring both outlet ports
into communication with the inlet port.
The slide valve is formed or shaped with an opening or aperture or part cut
away so as not to close the inlet port but to allow free flow of the water therefrom
always around the valve in the valve chamber so that the valve is thereby always
practically held in a state of equilibrium.
The slide valve is connected to and actuated by a sliding ram or plunger the
movement of which, and the distance which it travels is determined by the pressure
of the water in the valve chamber upon it. The ram extends from the valve
chamber through suitable packing or stuffing box and the other end enters a
cylinder or chamber always in connection with and open to the pressure main which
supplies the power water or hydraulic power to the cylinders. The end of the ram
in the valve chamber is greater than the end in the chamber connected with the
main so that when the pressure in the valve chamber rises to a given degree
proportionate to the ratio between the area of the two ends of the ram the ram is
driven or moved back carrying the slide valve with it.
In addition to the outlet ports carrying the power water to the cylinders there
are connected with each outlet port or passage relief or lowering valves which open
when the water is shut off to allow the waste water to flow back from the cylinders.

page_text: These are preferably arranged to open into the valve chamber and the waste water
flows away through the inlet port. The inlet port is connected to the ordinary
supply or starting valve which admits pressure to and carries away the exhaust
water from the various cylinders.
Of the two outlet ports one connects with one cylinder and the other with two
cylinders and in. its normal position when at: rest the slide valve is held by the
differential ram over the two cylinder port to close it leaving the one cylinder port
open. If the load to be lifted is not greater than the capacity of one cylinder the
slide valve remains stationary as the pressure in the valve chamber will not at any
time exceed the load. When the load is greater than the capacity of one cylinder
the pressure increases in the valve chamber and acting on the differential ram
moves it back and with it moves the valve, this movement of the valve closes the
one cylinder port and opens the two cylinder port and if then the load is not too
great for two cylinders the valve comes to rest again, if however the load is more
than the capacity of two cylinders the increasing pressure in the valve chamber
moves the ram further back, and moves the valve until the D covers the one
cylinder port, thus opening both outlet ports and supplying power water to all three
cylinders.
When the maximum load either for the two cylinders or the three cylinders is
not reached the pressure exerted ou the ram will be such that it will not move to
uncover the respective ports to the full extent and the valve will thus automatically
act to throttle the port and prevent the apparatus acquiring too great a speed as
well as automatically determining the flow of the power.water to the requisite
number of cylinders.
By increasing the number of ports and the shape or arrangement of the slide
valve this apparatus may be applied to a greater number of cylinders and a greater
variation of power than three.
In the
As applied to a two cylinder or two power apparatus where the load is in the
first instance distributed over two cylinders I construct the apparatus with an inlet
leading from the supply or regulating valve with three ways or ports leading
therefrom. One of these leads to the first power cylinder or cylinders which are
capable of lifting the lighter load. Another leads to second power cylinder which,
with the others, lifts the maximum load the the third leads back to the inlet
connecting with the regulating valve by which the waste water is returned.
way or port which leads to the second power cylinder is placed a valve resting upon
a suitable seating by which the passage is closed. This valve is held upon its seat
by the pressure of weights, levers or springs, at present I prefer a weighted lever.
The weights upon this lever are adjusted to the required degree so that when the
pressure in the first power cylinder or cylinders rises the valve opens and the water
passes forward to the second power cylinder. From the passage through which the
water passes to the second power or high pressure cylinder are two additional
passages controlled by return or relief valves one of these passages communicates
with the waste water from the cylinders and the other with the third port
or way already described through which the waste water returns to the regulating
valve.
This apparatus may be applied to the distributing of water of three or more
cylinders by increasing the number of passages and valves to supply the
corresponding number of cylinders.
In working the water will first pass direct to the first cylinder or first power
cylinder and when the load exceeds the capacity thereof it opens the weighted valve
and passes to the second power cylinder. When the regulating valve is turned to
empty the cylinders, the water flowing back lifts the relief or return valves and
flows back through the inlet.
Dated this 12th day of October 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bauk Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Valves or Apparatus for Supplying Water to the
Cylinders of Hydraulic Lifts, Hoists, Cranes, or other Hydraulic
Machinery.
I, JOHN CHARLES ETCHELLS, of Heaton Chapel, near Stockport, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention is designed to provide a valve or apparatus for automatically
supplying the power water to the cylinders of multiple cylinder hydraulic
apparatus where more than one cylinder is employed and where the cylinders are
successively brought into action according to the load to be lifted.
It is primarily intended to be used with hydraulic hoists, lifts and the like which
have two, three or more cylinders and rams the power for which is supplied at a
fixed pressure from the mains or from an accumulator or tauk with the object that
only sufficient water will be used to lift a given load and that the water required
to lift the load will be automatically directed or distributed to one, two, or more
cylinders as required to overcome the load at the time to be lifted.
The valve or apparatus is caused to work or is operated automatically to open
and close the ports leading to the several cylinders by the back pressure or the
pressure caused by the resistance of the load upon the cylinders-acting on a
differential ram or plunger or upon a loaded valve which is moved or opened a
greater distance as the pressure or resistance is increased.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Longitudinal sectional elevation arranged with differential ram or plunger
and slide valve.
Fig. 2. Longitudinal sectional elevation arranged with a loaded valve.
Fig. 3. Longitudinal sectional elevation of a modification with loaded valves for
supplying three hydraulic cylinders.
Referring to Fig. 1. my improved distributing valve is illustrated as constructed
with a differential ram or plunger A and slide valve B as applied to a three
cylinder or three power hoist, lift or other hydraulic apparatus. It is constructed
with inlet port C centrally or otherwise placed and two outlet ports E and F
which are opened or closed by the sliding Ĺ valve B. The outlet ports E and F
are preferably arranged one at either side of the inlet port C and the valve B
covers the three ports. The valve B may be of any convenient shape but I at
present prefer a D shaped valve of a size to cover the inlet port C and one of the
outlet ports E or F and capable of being moved so as to open both outlet ports
or bring both outlet ports into communication with the inlet port. A suitable
seating G is provided for the valve to slide upon.
The slide valve B is formed or shaped with an opening, or aperture or ☐ part
cut away so as not to close the inlet port C but to allow free flow of the water
therefrom always around the valve B in the valve chamber ò so that the valve is
thereby always practically held in a state of equilibrium.
The slide valve B is connected to and actuated by a sliding ram or plunger A
the movement of which and the distance which it travels is determined by the
pressure upon it of the water in the valve chamber b. The ram A extends from
the valve chamber b through suitable packing or stuffing boxes 9 and the other
end enters the cylinder or chamber H always in connection with and open to the
pressure main which supplies the power water or hydraulic power to the cylinders.
The end of the ram A in the valve chamber is greater than the end in the
chamber H connected with the main so that when the pressure in the valve

page_text: chamber 6 rises to a given degree proportionate to the ratio between the area of
the two ends of the ram the ram A is driven or moved back carrying the slide
valve B with it.
In addition to the outlet ports E and F which convey the power water to the
cylinders there are connected with each outlet port or passage relief or lowering
valves J and K which open when the water is shut off to allow the waste water to
flow back from the cylinders. The relief valves J and K are preferably arranged
to open into the valve chamber b and the waste water flows away through the inlet
port C. The inlet port C is connected to the ordinary two or three way supply or
starting valve which admits water under pressure to and carries away the exhaust
water from the various cylinders.
Of the two outlet ports the port E connects with one cylinder of the hydraulic
apparatus and the port F with two cylinders and in its normal position when at
rest the slide valve is held by the differential ram over the two cylinder port F to
close it leaving the one cylinder port E open. If the load to be lifted is not
greater than the capacity of one cylinder the slide valve remains stationary (in the
position shown in Fig. 1) as the pressure in the valve chamber will not at any time
exceed the load. When the load is greater than the capacity of one cylinder the
pressure increases in the valve chamber and acting on the differential ram A
moves it back and with it moves the valve B this movement of the valve closes the
one cylinder port E and opens the two cylinder port F and if then the load is not
too great for two cylinders the valve comes to rest again; if however the load is
more than the capacity of two cylinders the increasing pressure in the valve
chamber moves the ram A further back and moves the valve B until the D
covers the one cylinder port E thus opening both outlet ports and supplying power
water to all three cylinders.
When the maximum load either for the two cylinders or the three cylinders is
not reached the pressure exerted on the ram A will be such that it will not move
to uncover the respective ports to the full extent and the valve will thus auto-
matically act to throttle the port and prevent the apparatus acquiring too great a
speed as well as automatically determining the flow of the power water to the
requisite number of cylinders.
By increasing the number of ports and the shape or arrangement of the slide
valve this apparatus may be applied to a greater number of cylinders and a greater
variation of power than three.
Referring to Fig. 2. my improved distributing valve is illustrated as constructed
with a loaded valve B' for application to or use with two cylinder or two power
apparatus. It is constructed with an inlet or supply pipe C₁ leading from the
supply or regulating valve and has three ways or ports c, c', c" leading therefrom
of these the port c is always open to the inlet C₁ and communicates direct with
the first power cylinder when the supply valve is open. The second port or
way c leads to or communicates with the second power cylinder which in con-
junction with the other cylinder lifts the maximum load. The third port or
waterway leads back to the inlet C¹ by which the waste water from the
cylinders is returned. In the waterway or port c¹ is placed a valve B by which
the passage is closed and which is held upon its seat by a weighted lever M or by
the pressure of springs or dead weights. The weight of the lever M upon the
valve B is adjusted to give a pressure on the valve nearly equal to that in the
main so that when the pressure in the first power cylinder is raised to or equal
to the weight upon the valve B it is automatically opened and the water flows
forward to the second cylinder of the hoist or apparatus with which it is
connected.
The waterway or port c¹ also connects with the third port or waterway cl
through which the waste water flows, the passage between the two being controlled
by the return or relief valve J. The branch E' is connected with an overhead
tank to keep the second cylinder full when the first is in operation. It is controlled
by the valve K¹.

page_text: When the valve is at work the water flows through the inlet C¹ direct to the
first cylinder through the port or waterway c and when the load exceeds the
capacity of this cylinder the pressure of the water opens the weighted valve B₁
and allows the water to flow through the port or waterway c¹ to the second
cylinder. When the water supply is shut off and the admission or regulating valve
turned to empty the cylinders the waste water flowing back opens the relief or
return valve J and flows back through the port or water way
Referring to Fig. 3 a modified form of my improved distributing valve with
loaded inlet valves is illustrated intended for application with or to supply water
under pressure to three cylinder or three power apparatus. It is constructed with
an inlet C controlled by two valves B₁ and N actuated by weighted levers M
and N which tend to hold the valve B¹ closed and the valve N open. Communi-
cation between the inlet and the first cylinder of the hydraulic apparatus is
established past the valve N by the port or waterway the valve N being
held open against the pressure of water by the weighted lever N". The ports
or waterways e c¹¹ lead from the inlet C¹ to the second and third cylinders of the
apparatus and communication between these is established when the pressure is
sufficient to raise the valve B'. The weight on the valve N and the weight on the
valve B' are adjusted relatively to each other that the pressure necessary to lift
the valve B is sufficient acting on the plunger N¹ to depress it and allow the
valve N to close. The port or waterway c' leads into the port or waterway cl
which also connects with the first cylinder of the apparatus the passage between
these ports being controlled by the weighted valve B" communication with the
cylinder being established when the pressure is sufficient to raise the valve B₁
Jis a relief or return valve through which the waste or exhaust water from the
second and third cylinders flows back to the inlet C¹.
When this modification of the valve is at work the water from the main flows in
at the inlet C past the valve N and through it flows to the waterway c and thence
to the first cylinder; when the maximum load of the first cylinder has been reached
the valve B is raised and the water passes therethrough to the waterways c¹ and c¹¹
and thence to the second and third cylinders the pressure at the same time acting
on the plunger N' closes the valve N and cuts off communication with the first
cylinder; when the maximum load on two cylinders the second and the third has
been attained the pressure raises the valve B" allowing the water to flow through
the waterway el to the first cylinder which is again brought into action.
the supply valve is reversed the valves B¹ and Bif close and the water flows back
through the valves N and J'.
When
The invention may be further modified in this direction to serve three, four or
more cylinders by increasing the number of waterways and weighted valves to
supply the corresponding number of cylinders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In a distributing valve for hydraulic lifts, cranes, hoists or other machinery
the combination with inlet and outlet waterways or ports of a slide valve operated
automatically by a differential ram working in two cylinders which opens one or
other or both of the ports according to the weight or load upon the apparatus
substantially as described.
2. In a distributing valve for hydraulic lifts, craues, hoists or other machinery
the combination with two or more waterways connected with the inlet of a weighted
valve which closes the passage or waterway to one cylinder until the maximum
working load has been reached in the other cylinder and then allows it to open
substantially as described.
3. In a distributing valve for hydraulic lifts, cranes, hoists or other machinery
the combination with two or more waterways connected with the inlet of a valve
past which the water flows to the first cylinder held open against the pressure of

page_text: water by a weight or spring until the maximum load on the first cylinder is
exceeded a weighted valve which is then opened by the pressure of the water
allowing the water to pass to the second and third cylinders and a third weighted
valve which opens when the pressure further increases by reason of the maximum
load on two cylinders being attained and brings the first cylinder again into
operation substantially as described.
4. A distributing valve for hydraulic lifts, cranes, hoists or other machinery
constructed substantially as described and shown with reference to either Fig. 1,
Fig. 2, or Fig. 3, of the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of July 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.