4367. Cummins, A. E. Feb. 22. Baling-presses.-Relates to a horizontal baling- press having a long filling-box to receive the cotton or other material, which is compressed by a hydraulic ram into a chamber, fitted at the end of the box ; in this chamber the final compression is effected by a second hydraulic ram. Fig. 2, (Sheet 2), is an elevation, and Fig. 3, (Sheet 2), a plan, partly in section. of the final compression-chamber, Fig. 2, (Sheet 3), and Fig. 2, (Sheet 5), being elevations respectively of an intermediate part and of the end of the filling- box, The filling-box a is provided on either side with hinged doors a', situated opposite each other, and normally secured by lugs a<4> which take under a shaft a<3> on each side of the box. In order to allow the doors to be released, the shafts are cut away above the lugs to a semicircular section, and can be rocked by means of a lever a<5>, fixed to the shaft on one side, and having a short arm connected by a link to an arm on the corresponding shaft opposite. The long plunger b<1> is supported against bending by two frames c (one only being shown), fitting within the box. These frames consist of plates, with suitable flanges, united by ribs, round the outside and round the central hole for the plunger. When the plunger b<1> is withdrawn into the cylinder, the frames c are close to the end of the box, but on the completion of one-third of the outward stroke, enlargements on the ends of rods d, fixed to the ram, catch the first frame c and draw it along. Similarly, at the completion of two-thirds of the stroke, the second frame is caught and drawn along by projections on the ends of tubes d<2>, fixed to the first frame. Tubes d<4>, d<5> are fixed to the second frame c and to the end of the box respectively, so that, when the ram is withdrawn, the rods and tubes d, d<2>, d', d' telescope. This withdrawal is effected by a counterweight (not shown) supported by pulleys. A rope e, passing round the pulleys and round other pulleys e<3> carried by a fixed frame, has one end attached to this frame and the other to the follower b<2> of the ram, suitable holes being provided in the frames c for its passage. To prevent the plunger from being forced out too far, a relief valve f is provided, connected by suitable mechanism with a forked lever f<1> in the path of an enlargement d<6> on the tube d<4>. The valves controlling the admission and escape of water to and from the hydraulic cylinders are of ordinary type. The final compression chamber g has hinged side doors g<1>, secured by bolts g<3>, which take under catches h bolted to the top and bottom of the chamber. The top g<5> is also hinged and counterpoised to facilitate the removal of the bale after it has been hooped, and is provided with a bolt g<8> taking into a hole in the end-plate j of the chamber. These bolts g<3>, g<8> are operated by eccentrics fixed to square-headed shafts g<4>, g<9>. The end of the follower b<2> of the plunger b<1> is slotted as shown, and a grid k is suitably shaped for passing into the slots when the preliminary compression of the material into the chamber g is complete. During this compression, the ends of the bars of the grid are flush with the inner wall of the chamber and form a part thereof. The grid is slid through the follower by means of a rack k<2> and pinion k<3> fixed to a hand-wheel k<4>. In order to allow the end of the grid to rest against the plate j, a door l, carried by rods l<1> sliding in brackets j<1>, is provided. Springs l<2> push the door forward when the grid is withdrawn, and nuts k<5> on rods k<6> carried by the grid maintain it flush with the wall of the chamber during the preliminary compression. The grid k serves to close the chamber g for the final compression of the material by a ram, which is pushed back again by the pressure of the preliminary ram. A relief-valve n is provided, actuated through links n<4>, n<2> and levers n<3>, n<1> by a shoulder on the plunger. Small doors o afford access to the cup-leathers.