Improvements in Means for Developing Power from Immersed Bodies.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Means for Developing Power from Immersed
Bodies.
I, JULIUS ZIEGNER, of No. 16, Waldschlösschenstrasse, Dresden, in the United
Kingdom of Saxony and German Empire, Merchant, 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:-
My invention relates to a method for rendering available the force of a body
immersed and rising through a liquid of greater specific gravity.
The invention is especially applicable to the rising of one or more light bodies
in a column of water or similar fluid whereby the said force can be caused to
effect mechanical work by means of intermediate gearing such as a crank and a
piston rod or the like. I may for instance utilize the force of the immersed
body in the following manner:-
The bodies of small specific gravity and of any convenient (preferably of
cylindrical) shape, are placed in a cylinder closed above which is depressed into
a column of liquid so that the total weight of the separate bodies exactly counter-
balances the weight of the actuating water column. If, under these circum-
stances, another body be added to those already counter-balanced, the lowermost
light body will be forced out of the bottom of the tube and can then rise through
the water and set a shaft for instance in motion, by means of the apparatus above
indicated; I do not, however, limit my invention to the use of this particular
apparatus, as the rising body may obviously be caused to impart energy to
apparatus of other construction.
The apparatus preferably employed includes a number of floats (either empty
or filled with air) placed over each other and connected by endless chains running
over rollers so that by the action of these floats in water the endless chains are
caused to revolve. This effect is assisted by mechanical means, for instance,
pumps, and the apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the motor.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding vertical section of the pump.
In Fig. 1a is a reservoir which is designed to contain the main part of the
motor. Across the reservoir a are shafts b and c carrying cylindrical drums d
around which passes an endless belt e. At equal distances are fixed on the belt e
blades f, which are designed to control floats g in such a manner, that these latter
are caused to turn the shafts b and c under the force of the gravity of the water
in the reservoir a. A second endless belt his arranged to keep the floats in their
working position between the blades f and passes around two cylindrical drums i,
keyed on shafts k arranged parallel to the above mentioned shafts b and c.
four shafts b, c, k, k have suitable bearings (not shewn in the drawing) rigidly
fixed in the vertical walls r of the reservoir a. Two toothed wheels are keyed
on the shafts c and k and gear together in such a manner that the belts e and h
are driven at the same speed. At both sides and near one end each float has
trunnions m adapted to rest on guide rods n, rigidly fixed at each side of the
The

page_text: upward way of the floats. When the floats reach the surface of the water, they
will be raised by the blades f and moved along the horizontal upper part of the
guides n, supported by their trunnions m until they arrive at the open upper
end of a vertical tube o adapted to guide the floats downwards and enable them
to be again caught by the blades f. The tube o is provided with the small
grooves p, which serve as ways for the trunnions m. A cover may be provided
to close the reservoir a. The edge of the cover fits between the drum d'and the
vertical wall separating the motor from the airpump s, Fig. 2, in such a
manner that this pump remains perfectly out of contact of any water in the
reservoir. On the shaft bis keyed a star-wheel t, the cogs u of which are adapted
to move the rod in the direction of the arrow w. The rod is moved in the
contrary direction by means of a spiral spring, resting with its one end against
the tube o whilst its other end rests against the collar y of the rod The
letter indicates the guide of the rod v. Near the collar y the rod vis pivotted
to a lever a¹, oscillating on a bearing fixed on the tube o. The lower end
of the lever a is also pivotted to a slide-valve 2 adapted to open and close the
tube o.
The floats which by their trunnions m are resting on the horizontal part
of the guide n, are pushed into the upper end of the channel o by means of the
blades f, as clearly shewn in Figure 1. When the floats g are just above the
upper open end of the channel o, the trunnions m have lost their support on
the guides
n and fall down by their own gravity until they rest on the slide-
valve ¹. As soon as the left hand end of the rod is sliding over the end of
a cog, the slide-valve z¹ is entirely drawn out of the channel o so that the
float resting on the valve once more falls down until its upper edge reaches a
position, underneath the path of the slide-valve, as is indicated by the dotted
line in Figure 1. The float rests now on some other floats, which were retained
partly by their friction on the walls of the tube O, partly by the power of the
water acting at the lower edge or surface of the lowest float g³ (Figure 1). As
soon, as the free left end (Figure 1) of the rod has passed over the end of the
cog u, the spring will slide the valve ¹ into the tube o, so that this will be
hermetically closed near its upper end. During the time, necessary for two
successive cogs to turn through the angle e¹ and come in contact with the
free left end of the rod v the crank of the air pumps (Figure 2), will complete
a full revolution in the direction of the arrow e¹. The crank is rigidly keyed
on the shaft f going through the crosswall and carrying in the reservoir a
sprocket wheel gearing with the sprocket wheel of the shaft c (Figure 1).
When the free end of the rod v is beginning to slide around a cog, the plunger i¹
is also beginning its downward movement, thereby forming a vacuum above it,
so that the suction valve is raised from its seat and compensates thereby the
pressure between the cylinder of the pump and the atmospheric air.
the free end of the rod v leaves a cog u and is then sliding over the cylindrical
part of the star wheel, which is between two cogs, the plunger is moved upwards,
compressing the air, enclosed in the cylinder and driving it into the space m¹
between the closed slide-valve z¹ and the float g¹, indicated by dotted lines in
Figure 1. A flexible pipe n¹ is designed to connect the cylinder with the
space m of the tube o.
When
By the pressure of the air, driven into the space m¹, all the floats, being in
the channel o underneath the slide-valve c', will be thrust down until the lowest
float has perfectly left the lower opening g' of the channel.
The float, thus driven out of the tube is then directed to the side by the
tongue whereupon the raising power of the water will drive the float against
the lower part of the guide n and as soon as the trunnions m come in contact
with the guide n the float is totally turned over and caught by the blades f.
By the successive movement of the belt e with its blades f the float being pushed
out comes automatically in such a position as is indicated by the two floats g²
(Figure 1). On its upward way as is indicated by the arrow t¹ all the floats,
caught by the blades f, will under the raising power of the water powerfully

page_text: revolve the shafts b and c, the one of which may be adapted to transmit the power
to machines of any kind and construction. It is not to be overlooked that the
connection of the fluid motor with the pump s has only the purpose to control
the working of this pump with relation to the rotation of the star-wheel u.
order to drive the air pumps a pulley u¹ is keyed on the shaft f¹ to be rotated
by the belt to be driven by any source of power.
In
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
A water motor consisting of a series of blades fixed on an endless belt revolving
around two horizontal shafts, said blades being adapted to engage with a series
of floats during their immersed condition and release the said Hoats after they
have left the water: a double guide, supporting the said floats by means of their
trunnions, and leading them to a vertical tube adapted to deliver the floats again
to the lower blades of the belt which continuously catch the immersed floats:
an air compressing pump controlled by the motor and a slide valve adapted to
close the upper part of the channel during the compressing stroke of the pump
and be moved by means of a star wheel and counter spring or the like sub-
stantially as described.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C. Patent Agents for the Applicant.