Patent GB-190723682-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Self-acting Buoyancy and Weight Motors.
Inventor: HEYWOOD JOHN JAMES
Filed: 1907-10-26
Granted: 1908-10-26
Abstract: 23,682. Heywood, J. J. Oct. 26. Self-driving motors.-A self-acting buoyancy and weight motor is constructed with a variable buoyancy apparatus indicated diagrammatically at X, Fig. 22, secured to a float and immersed in water in a tank A carried by a counterweighted pivoted lever B, the buoyancy apparatus being fixed to a pivoted lever y' controlled by a spring J. The spring J and weights D, F are so arranged that the levers y<1>, B are balanced or have a slight upward tendency. Perpetual motion is effected by the variations in the buoyancy of the apparatus X, which automatically decreases in its lowest position, thereby sinking in the water and decreasing the tension on the spring J so that the lever B causes the system to move up, while at the highest position the buoyancy automatically increases, producing an increased tension on the spring J so that the system descends. The spring J may be replaced by weights, and weight chains hanging from pulleys may be employed for weighting either of the levers so as to produce a gradually varying load as required during the movements of the levers. A shaft may be driven from the lever B by a rod and crank. The variable-buoyancy apparatus consists, in one arrangement, of a cylinder made of two diameters a<3>, b<3>, Fig. 6, fitted with pistons d<3>, e<3> connected by a rod f which is extended to slide through guides j<3> in the ends of the cylinder. A seating h<3> for connexion to the lever y', Fig. 22, and a passage c<3> for the free inlet and outlet of air, are provided near the part where the diameter of the cylinder changes. Fig. 25 shows this cylinder pivotally mounted in brackets Q depending from a divided float X<1> resting in the tank A, which is in its raised position. During the upward movement, the piston-rod is locked by a catch R so that the apparatus has a minimum buoyancy, but at the end of the movement the catch is released by contact with the bracket Q, and the pistons move upwards by the greater pressure of the water on the smaller diameter, thereby increasing the buoyancy and becoming again locked. The downward movement brings the cylinder into an horizontal position, the catch being again released so that the pressure on the larger piston can move the pistons over to make the buoyancy a minimum again. The piston may be packed by cup-leathers, hemp packing arranged in a stuffing-box formed in the pistons, rubber rings arranged between the pistons and the cylinder, or by large rubber tubes n, Fig. 6, arranged between the pistons and the cylinder and each secured at one end to the cylinder and at the other end to the corresponding piston, rubber rings being in some cases inserted between the fold of the larger tubes to prevent the two parts from adhering. Fig. 13 shows another form of packing-ring, consisting of a rubber tube l with lips z. The tube is pressed to a flattened form when inserted between the cylinder and piston, to which the lips z are respectively secured. One or both of the pistons may be arranged to work around the outside of, instead of within, the cylinder, suitable guides for the piston-rod being arranged within the cylinder. In a modification, the cylinders may be arranged as shown at a<11>, b<11>, Fig. 19, and the pistons controlled to move in opposite directions by a pivoted rod w<11>, or they may be arranged at each end of a pipe so as to face one another, the pistons being then mounted on the same rod. The weight of the pistons and rod may be counterbalanced by a pivoted lever and weights, and a catch operated from other parts of the motor is provided to lock the piston-rod in either of its extreme positions. In another modification, the cylinder is replaced by two bellows arrangements of unequal diameter connected at their inner ends to a central hollow frame and at their outer ends to plates which are connected together by a guided central rod, or extended te turn about a pivot on an extension of the frame and connected to oscillate together. Fig. 15 shows a modification of the latter arrangement, in which there are two large and two small bellows chambers a<8>, b<8> respectively connected by pivoted levers j<8> so that the large and small chambers are extended alternately. A seating for connexion to the operating-devices, and an air passage, are provided in the central hollow frame.