IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR ACTUATING MACHINE HAMMERS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PILE-DRIVING AND OTHER SUCH LIKE MACHINES AND PURPOSES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Grieve Winton and Thomas William Cowan,
both of 42, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, in the City of London, Engineers,
for the Invention of" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR ACTUATING MACHINE
HAMMERS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PILE-DRIVING
AND OTHER SUCH LIKE MACHINES AND PURPOSES."
Sealed the 26th September 1861, and dated the 2nd April 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Grieve. Winton and
Thomas William Cowan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 2nd April 1861.
We, JOHN GRIEVE WINTON and THOMAS WILLIAM COWAN, both of 42,
Bridge Street, Blackfriars, in the City of London, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS
FOR ACTUATING MACHINE HAMMERS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLI-
CABLE TO PILE-DRIVING AND OTHER SUCH LIKE MACHINES AND PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
Our Invention relates to those forge or machinehammers which are worked
by means of cams, tappets, wipers, or other such movements, and our improve-
ments consist in the methods we adopt in order to increase or regulate the
momentum of the blow of the hammer, by means of the action of highly
Price Al

page_text: compressed air; also in the arrangement of the different parts composing these
kind of hammers in order to give them greater compactness and stability.
We
propose to use in connection with the cylinder and piston ordinarily
used with these hammers one or more chambers or receivers for condensing
air to be forced into them with force pumps; these chambers are connected
with the cylinder at the top and bottom by means of tubes with cocks or valves.
We propose to regulate the elasticity or density of the compressed air by
means of spring, balanced, or weighted valves.
When we wish to give increased momentum to the blow of the hammer at
the moment that the piston begins to descend, we introduce above it, within
the cylinder, a quantity of compressed air, which, by its expansive action, urges
the piston, and with it the hammer downwards with greater force. If the force
of the blow is to be broken, this we effect by introducing a small quantity of
compressed air below the piston. The air is introduced by means of the valves
afore-mentioned, which are under the control of the attendant.
The next ofour improvements is in the arrangement of the parts composing
the said hammers. We propose to form our frame so that the hammer shall
overhang the anvil or work, having the cylinder and receivers cast on the
frame, as also the anvil block; these, however, may be bolted to instead of
cast on.
We propose to actuate the hammer either by means of spur wheels and
pinions, bevel, or any other gear driven by belts or straps passing immediately
from the motive power.
We also propose to adjust the length of the stroke of the piston, that is, the
hammer, by means of tappets, cams, or wipers, or similar arrangements. We
propose for hammers with short strokes to use a trunk cylinder,having the end
of the rod directly connected with the wiper and the hammer attached to the
end of the said wiper or lever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Grieve Winton and Thomas William Cowan in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd October 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
GRIEVE WINTON and TноMAS WILLIAM COWAN, both of 42, Bridge Street,
Blackfriars, in the City of London, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of April, in the year of our Lord One

page_text: thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty
year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said John Grieve Winton and Thomas William Cowan, Her special licence
that we, the said John Grieve Winton and Thomas William Cowan, our exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Grieve
Winton and Thomas William Cowan, our 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 law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR ACTUATING MACHINE HAMMERS
WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PILE-DRIVING AND OTHER SUCH
LIKE MACHINES AND PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said John Grieve Winton and Thomas William Cowan, our executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 we, the said John Grieve Winton and Thomas
William Cowan, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say: -
Our Invention relates chicfly to those forge or machine hammers which are
worked by means of power transmitted through cams, tappets, wipers, or
similar movements; and our improvements consist in the methods we adopt
in order to increase, diminish, and regulate the momentum of the blow from
the hammer, and also in the general arrangement and combination of the
various parts composing the machine through which the effects are produced,
and by which greater compactness and stability is obtained.
The meaus we make use of for regulating the momentum of the blow con-
sist in certain combination of parts by which we obtain the action of highly
compressed air, which either impels the hammer downwards from above, or
acting from below modifies the effect of the blow. For this purpose we pro-
pose to use in connexion with the cylinder and piston ordinarily employed in
these machines one or more chambers or reservoirs for condensing the air
which is admitted into them, either at top or bottom, by means of cocks or
valves, and which is allowed, when wished, to escape by the same means.
Moreover, with certain machines, when it is wished that the force of the blow:

page_text: should always be uniform, we propose to effect this by arrangements whereby
the elasticity of the compressed air shall always be the same, and this we obtain
by using a balance spring valve or a weighted lever, or some such similar well-
known device.
When the blow to be struck is wished to be a heavy one, we allow the air
to be compressed on the top of the cylinder by confining it in a small space;
if a lighter blow is to be struck, then, by means of a cock, one or more of the
air-receiving chambers are opened, and the air entering from the top of the
cylinder is then allowed to occupy more space and become less compressed; if
the blow is to be withheld, the air in the top is allowed to be forced out of the
cylinder into the atmosphere, and a partial vacuum being formed, the hammer
is suspended, or by the introduction of a portion of air below the piston in the
cylinder, a cushion is formed which destroys the impetus of the blow.
The next part of our Invention relates to those hammers which have a
steam cylinder in connection with the air cylinder. In working these we use
an equilibrium valve to supply the steam, and by means of a connecting
passage between the two cylinders weare enabled to convey the exhaust steam
after it has lifted the hammer through its action on the piston, on to the head
of the hammer itself, and by its further expansive action to give additional
impetus to the blow. We propose to apply this principle of using the exhaust
steam, after it has acted in lifting the hammer, to purely steam hammers, that
is, those hammers worked solely by steam, using generally two cylinders, a
small and a large one.
We further propose to work hammers by means of air compressed in a
separate vessel pumped into the cylinders or air receivers by means of pumps
attached to the frame, and worked by cranks or excentrics. The air receiver,
preferably of wrought iron, may be fixed in the framing, and fitted with proper
safety valves and cocks. In constructing our force pumps we propose to form
a chamber in connection with the plunger cylinder; in this chamber we place
water, oil, or other fluid. The air enters by a valve above the water, the
plunger acting upon the water, which in its turn forces the air into the air
chamber.
We propose also to apply the principle of compressed air in order to give
an impetus to the blow to pile-driving machines. To effect this we fix a
cylinder and piston, with one, two, or more piston rods, at the top of the
framing, right over the ram. As the latter moves up it raises up the piston
rods and hence the piston up the cylinder, compressing the air when it arrives
at the proper height, and becomes detached for its fall; the compressed air
acting through the piston and rods gives an impetus to its fall, and hence

page_text: increases the effect of the blow. A series of air holes at the bottom admit air
so as to form a cushion for the piston in falling, and prevent damage to the
cylinder cover.
We propose alsɔ to use the principle of compressing air or water or other
liquids in raising the ram, and this we do by means of a double or single-
acting force pump, which urges up a piston or plunger, which in its turn
acting upon a series of jointed levers, which by opening or shutting give an
upward or downward motion, by means of which the ram may be raised through
chains passing over pullies or over a barrel.
In order more clearly to shew the nature of our Invention, the plans we
adopt for introducing and using and compressing the air, the combination
by which we are enabled to carry out the use of the said compressed air,
and also the various forms and combinations of the different parts of our
machine hammers and pile-driving engines, by which we obtain more compact-
ness, stability, and uniformity of action, we have to this Specification appended
the accompanying Drawings, which are intended to form part of this Specifi-
cation, and to illustrate the general principles of the mode by which we apply
our Invention, the general form and outline of the various parts, and the
principles of combination of those parts by which we obtain the results; at
the same time we wish it understood that we do not confine ourselves to the
exact details of outline, form, size, arrangement, or combination, as these may
be modified and altered to suit particular applications of the machine, so long
as the general principles of the Invention are retained.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation shewing the general form and combination
of parts in one of our compound machine lammers; this may be taken as the
type or basis upon which the others are formed, modifications of parts being
introduced to suit particular applications.
Figure 2 is a sectional side view, and Figure 3, a front elevation. First,
with regard to the arrangement and disposition of parts, instead of working
the hammers direct from the wiper or cam, we propose to effect this through
the arrangement shewn in the Figures.
f is a lever centered upon the axle f', and working upon the suspensory
link 2, which carries the pinf³. This pin is attached to or passes through the
hammer, which has the hammer block fixed to it in the usual manner. The
cam or tappet E is mounted upon the axle d, which may be driven from the
main shaft by belts or gearing, or may, as in Figure 1, be driven by the pirion
mounted on the main axle or shaft d', whereon is also the pulley a¹and the fly

page_text: wheel a². The piston rodj passes through the glandj¹ and into the cylinder m,
having a piston k¹ mounted upon it. The other extremity of the piston passes
through into the air chamber n, which serves as a guide to it. The air
chamber is divided into two or more compartments. 01, 02, are valves com-
municating with the atmosphere; p¹, p³, cocks, the former communicating
with the air chamber from without, and the latter with the bottom of the
cylinder. The valve o¹ has also a cock placed outside (not shewn in the
Drawing) for the purpose of preventing the air from passing through it when
not wished for; r, the anvil block. Supposing now the action to be going on,
the hammer about to rise, the cock p2 is open, the cock p¹ shut, the piston
rising compresses the air above it, increasing the elasticity; hence, when it
reaches the top of the stroke and begins to fall, it receives an additional
impetus from the action of the compressed air on the piston. The cock at the
bottom being open allows the airbeneath the piston to be ejected at the down-
ward stroke. If it should be wished to diminish the stroke from the fall of the
hammer, by closing the cock p2 a cushion is formed underneath the piston,
which receives the impact of the blow and destroys it. If it is wished to lessen
the elasticity of the air, then by partially opening the cock p¹ a communi-
cation is made with one or more compartments of the air chamber, which,
allowing increased space diminishes its elasticity, and hence lessens the effect
of the blow. By opening the other cock behind the valve o¹, a vacuum may
be formed by allowing the air to escape wholly from the cylinder, then closing
the said cock. It will be seen that the anvil block is cast with the framing,
and when convenient the cylinder may be in a similar manner.
Figure 4 shews another arrangement where the air chamber forms a hollow
piston, upon which the hammer, which is a hollow cylinder, slides. The
general arrangement for moving the hammer is the same as last described. In
this, however, the parts for producing the action ofthe air are different. Here
we propose to introduce a spring balanced lever valve so as to enable us to work
the air always at the same elasticity'; thus, the hammer rising compresses the
air, but whenever the compression reaches a certain fixed point, the pressure
on the valve d, exceeding that of the spring, raises the former, and allows the
air to escape until the equilibrium is restored; also by opening the cock c
more air may be allowed to enter; also by keeping the said cock more or less
closed a partial vacuum may be formed. Figure 5 is a front view of the
same.
Figures 6 and 7 are a front view and elevation and section, shewing a
different arrangement of the motive parts where the hammerhead forms part
of the lever moved by the wiper, and the piston is actuated by means of the

page_text: small trunk r, and the trunk cylinder ¹ moving on the air cylinder; in this
case the air is only introduced at the top by the valve, and the cock is used to
distribute it to the compartments of the air chamber, or to allow it to be driven
into the atmosphere. The valve in this case is made with a double
passage,
having one flap opening outwards, the other inwards, in order to form the
vacuum if required.
Figures 8, 9, & 10 shew an arrangement wherein the hammer is worked
by the wiper or cam directly, instead of through an intermediate arrangement
of the levers. As before mentioned, the air is only introduced at the top.
p³ is the cock placed in front of the valve o¹, and referred to in the descrip-
tion of Figures 1, 2, & 3, in order to produce a vacuum by shutting off the
air, and preventing it returning through the valve o².
Figures 11 & 12 shew a mode of combining two hammers in one common
frame, with one driving belt over the cone w; hence, by adjusting the cams,
the strain is equalized upon the cam shaft; moreover by the introduction of
the cone pulley, the number of blows may be regulated without casting off the
belt. By a similar arrangement any number of hammers may be worked
together from the same shaft. Furthermore, we propose in some instances to
substitute differential pullies in lieu of the cones. The same arrangement may
be applied whether the hammers of the machine are worked by the cam, or
by means of the cam or wiper, through levers or other gear.
Figures 13 and 14 are an elevation and section of our proposed arrange-
ment for those hammers which are a combination of steam and air hammers,
that is to say, when the steam is used to raise the hammer directly. a, the
hammer; b, the rod; c, the cylinder in which the hammer moves, which pre-
ferably should be steam-tight packed. The piston rod passes through the
gland on the top of the cylinder c, and then enters into the steam cylinder d,
terminating in the piston c; the steam enters by the pipes, and is supplied by
the equilibrium valve to the under side of the piston c, so as to raise the
hammer; after the steam has raised the piston and the hammer, we propose
to use it by allowing it to pass on to the head of the hammer in the cylinder
below, and also on to the head of the piston above, and by its further expan-
sion to give increased impetus to the blow of the hammer. The cylinder valve
may either be made self-acting or work by hand through the side lever n, so as
to regulate the supply of steam to the communicating pipe between the upper
and lower cylinder. This pipe is shewn in Figure 15, which also shews the
details for applying the said principle of using the expansive force of steam
after it has raised the hammer, to give impulse to the blow by injecting it
upon the head of the piston and hammer. The air receiving chambers may also

page_text: .
be applied to the arrangement shewn in the Figures 13 and 14. Furthermore,
compressed air by means of force pumps, as before mentioned, may be injected
from an air chamber so as to act upon the head of either piston or hammer;
m, in Fig. 13 and 14, is the cock for allowing the air either compressed or
otherwise, to be admitted to or let out of the cylinder.
Figures 16 and 17 shew the mode of using the action of compressed air
in pile-driving machines, and also the mode we propose to raise the ram, by
means of compressed air or water acting upon a piston and a set of jointed
levers; the air cylinder is fixed at the top of the framing with the guide on
which the ram moves, within is the piston having one or more piston rods.
As the ram moves up, it acts upon the rods and forces up the piston, com-
pressing the air when it becomes detached by the ordinary apparatus ; the
action of the compressed air upon the piston is communicated to the ram,
giving increased impetus to the blow. The small surface at the bottom allows
acushion of air to be formed, which prevents the piston falling on the cylinder
cover; this last-mentioned arrangement for cushioning the piston when falling
is the only portion of our Invention in this machine.
Our plan for raising the ram consists in the following:-B is an ordinary
force pump connected with the cylinder c and plunger D. The plunger is
connected with the system of jointed levers e, e, e, so that as the plunger is
raised by means of air or water forced into the cylinder by the air pump, it
acts upon the lower fixed arms of the levers n, n, which in their turn act
upon those connected with theirs, and hence through the whole system, so
that a small upward motion of the plunger becomes multiplied by the number
of joints in the system of the levers. The ram is connected by means of
chains passing over the pulley m, m, as shewn, or by drums, or any other
similar arrangement. It will be seen that the guides of the levers and pullies
are formed of iron, and attached to the ordinary frame of the pile engine, the
central pivots of the system of levers moving in the guides or grooves.
Figure 18 shews the mode we adopt in forcing the compressed air within
the air receiver; in order to keep the plunger of the pump cool, we introduce
beneath the plunger a chamber into which we place oil or water, or other
liquid a. Air enters into the chamber above the liquid through the valve b;
the alternate depression and elevation of the liquid allows the air to enter
the chamber, and thus forces it through the pipe c into the air receiver d;
we are thus enabled to keep the plunger always cool and lubricated.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and how the same
is constructed, formed, and acts, we wish it understood that we do not
claim the use of compressed air to increase, diminish, or regulate the blow of

page_text: the hammer in machine hammers, as that has been heretofore done; but what
we do claim as new and wish secured by the before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
First, the use of air chambers having one or more compartments for the
purpose of regulating the elasticity of the air, in order to regulate the blow of
the hammers in machine hammers.
Secondly, the different modes of regulating the admission and ejection of the
air both into the said air compressing chambers, and also into the cylinders of
machine hammers, by the arrangement of cocks and valves, substantially as
shewn herewithin, and more fully illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, and 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly, the general combination and arrangement of the working parts in
connection with the parts forming the preceding claim, as shewn in the said
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the said Drawings.
Fourthly, the use of air compressed by force pumps to work machine
hammers, having the form and arrangement of parts shewn in the afore-men-
tioned Figures, as well as in those of Figures 13, 14, and 15.
Fifthly, in those machine hammers, wherein the hammer is raised either by
the action of steam upon it directly, or through the medium of a piston, we
claim the principle of using the said steam after it has raised the hammer, to
give an additional impulse to the hammer by its expansive action in urging it
downwards, either by causing it to impinge upon the head of the piston or
that of the hammer, by the means and in the manner substantially as set
forth herewithin, and more fully illustrated in Figures 13, 14, and 15, of the
accompanying Drawings.
Sixthly, we claim the combination and form of machine hammers substan-
tially as set forth herewithin, and illustrated more fully in Figures 13, 14,
and 15, being hammers worked either by steam alone, or by steam and air
combined.
Seventhly, the mode of combining two or more machine hammers, so as to
actuate them from the same shaft substantially as herewithin described, and
illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 of the Drawings appended.
Eighthly, in pile-driving machines, we claim the construction and use of a
cylinder for giving additional impulse to the blow, having an arrangement for
preventing the shock of the piston on the cylinder cover as described here-
within, and illustrated in Figures 16 and 17 of the Drawings.
Ninthly, the mode of raising the ram by means of compressed air or water
in combination with the plunger, and the series of jointed levers, chains, ropes,

page_text: and pullies, substantially as herewithin described, and more fully illustrated in
Figures 16 and 17 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Grieve Winton and Thomas
William Cowan, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Second
day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hun-
dred and sixty-one.
JOHN GRIEVE WINTON.
(L.S.)
THOMAS WILLIAM COWAN. (L.S.)