Patent GB-680893-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to hydraulic engines
IPC: F03B17/02
Filed: 1949-04-08
Abstract: 680,893. Hydraulic engines. MICHALITSIANOS, E. M. April 8, 1949, No. 10586/48. Class 69 (i). A hydraulic engine comprises a plurality of vessels 1 ... 8 adapted to contain water and connected together so as to follow one another around an endless closed path which is disposed vertically alongside a tower A containing a column of water so that the vessels are filled at the top of the tower and descend under the action of gravity down the outside of the tower and after being emptied at a lower level pass into a receiving chamber A<SP>1</SP> from which they rise again to the top of the tower by their buoyancy in the water column, a pump G, H being provided in driving connection with the vessels so as to empty the receiving chamber A immediately prior to a vessel entering the tower after which the chamber is flooded by the column of water and the pump operates to raise the column of water sufficiently to fill each vessel when at the top of the tower. The engine is driven by a motor 10 which drives the vessels 1 ... 8 via chains 11, 27, 31 and sprockets 13, 29, 30 and the pump by a chain 33 which passes over a sprocket 34 and is attached at 35 to one end of a lever pivoted at 37, the other end 36 of the lever being connected to a triangular frame 39<SP>1</SP> carrying rods 41, for controlling the valves, and the piston rod 39. The pump comprises pistons G (weighted at F) and H which are interconnected by rods J. The space between the pistons is provided with a partition R, fixed to the cylinder, and a piston X which is cut away at its lower end so that the whole of the upper face of the piston H is exposed to the pressure of the water between the pistons. The space L above the partition R is separated from the space E by a vertically movable plate P having a number of valves Y therein which open automatically in the lower position of the plate. In operation, when a vessel, e.g. 4 enters the bottom of the tower the doors 45 are opened by fingers 49, the water discharged therefrom and the doors spring closed. Meanwhile the piston G, H rises and (a) the couplings 50 and 40 on the rod 41 open door 51 and valve K respectively so that the discharged water passes through the space A<SP>1</SP> into the space L ; (b) the catch N on the plate P and a pivoted catch M on the piston G engage so that plate P starts to rise ; (c) at the top of the stroke (i) the projection U on the plate P engages a hook S on partition R, the catches N, M disengage and the plate falls, the valves Y simultaneously opening so that the water in part L passes into part E, (ii) the valve K shuts a stop 63 and the resilient coupling 40 "breaks" so that the valve K closes, and the valve W is opened by a coupling 43 on the rod 41. As the piston descends (a) the water in the parts E, L is pumped past the valve W to overflow at the top of the tube C into the compartment A ; (b) the doors 55 (in the diaphragm separating the compartment A from the receiving chamber A') are opened by a coupling 54 on the rod 41 to allow the vessel to enter the compartment A ; (c) the door 51 is closed by the coupling 52 and the valve in the pipe 59 opened by the coupling 60 thus filling the receiving chamber A<SP>1</SP> from the compartment A. The doors 55 are closed on the next up stroke. The doors 45 of the vessels are opened below water level in the compartment A so the vessels fill before travelling downwards. The opening and closing of the valves, may be performed electrically in synchronism with the movements of the pump'and vessels.