CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING ROTARY MOTION
Year: 1821

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
DELAP, of Belfast, in that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth did,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of that part of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, bearing date at Westminster,
the First day of May, in the second year of His reign, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Delap, my exors, adñors, and assigns, His especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Robert Delap, my exors,
admors, and assigns, during the term of years therein mentioned, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING
ROTARY MOTION;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso
that if I, the said Robert Delap, shall not particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the
same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that
then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages whatsoever
thereby granted, shall utterly cease, determine, and become void, as in and by
the same, relation being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Robert Delap, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the following
description of, (that is to say) :-
A treadle carriage.
Fig. 1 is the end view. It is to be propelled by the weight (or gravity) of
the human body, the impulse of which is constantly preserved by the active
alternate pressure of the feet or treadles (or levers). The shafts are the same
as those of a gig. At the fore points is placed the pivot wheel A, with its
mounting (a pair of wheels may be substituted); B, the cross bar to which the
reins are fixed, to turn it into a cross street or road; C, C, the ratchett wheels,
firmly fixed on the main axis, as are also the two hind wheels of the carriage,
2, 2. One or both of these latter might be left to turn on the axle connected with
it by the ratchett wheel, Fig. 10. The two outside ratchets, with their hori-
zontal levers d, d, are for the alternate pressure of the feet to roll the carriage
forward. The centre one e is reversed for the purpose of backing the carriage
when necessary, the treadle of which is brought forward to the others, for the
convenience of the operative person; but the lever of the ratchett is only half
the length of the other two, that the length of the tread may be the same in
all. The necessity of this will appear by looking at the connecting rod of this
treadle and lever. F is a pulley to raise by cord or chain the levers alter-
nately as trod upon. A lever is made to press on the verge of the ratchett or
other wheel, on the axle or neave of the wheel, to retard the motion going
down hill. In backing, the axle and wheel are locked by a lever, bolt, or
other contrivance (if the wheel turns on the axis), or a cogged wheel on the
nave and pinion, to turn it, will, answer.
Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1, and the parts marked with the same letters.
3 is a retarder on the pivot wheel.
Fig. 3 is the lever, with its hoop 3, 3, which encircles and moves freely
with its catch 4 over the ratchetts in one direction, but in the other the catch
lays hold of the ratchetts, and enables the foot to propel the carriage forward.
To prevent the noise of the catch on the ratchett, the slipper 5 for the foot at the
end of the lever is to be raised at the toe, which detaches the catch, and prevents
noise. When a tread is made, the toe is pressed down, which throws in the catch
on the ratchett, by the rod 6 connecting it with the arm projecting from the under
part of the slipper, and thus the tread has its full effect in turning the wheels
round. The heel of the slipper being made to preponderate will keep the
catch detached from the ratchett until tread upon.

page_text: Fig. 4, treadles adapted to the operator, being placed either before or behind
the body of the carriage, and connected with the ratchett wheels c, c, by their
levers, of half the length of those in the preceding case, that the tread may be
the same extent, and the impulse the same in both.
Fig. 5, a straight lever 3, with its catch 4 and slipper 5, same as Fig. 3, but
with less friction, as its fork embraces the ratchett wheel without touching it,
and moves on two small rounds of the main axis, one on each side of the ratchett.
It is acted upon the same as Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is one wheel and part of the axle of a similar carriage to the pre-
ceding. The wheel a is furnished with a ratchett b, pointing to the centre,
nearly the size of itself. The shaft c is fixed by eye bolts to the axle (if the
axle does not turn), or to the carriage frame by eye bolts (if the axle turns),
having a descending arm d, with a catch at the end, to act upon the ratchett,
and a horizontal arm or lever e at the end of this shaft to tread upon (as in
Fig. 1). This shaft extends only so far towards the centre of the axle as to
allow a similar shaft and arms from the opposite wheel to be convenient in the
center for the operator to tread upon both alternately, and by that means roll
the carriage forward, or the driver may sit on the axle, & propel, by treading
on steps placed where the ratchett wheel is.
Fig. 7, F is one wheel of a carriage, having a cog wheel 9 (nearly its own
size), firmly attached.to it. h is a winch handle and roller, with a small cog
wheel, and round both cog wheels a chain passes, so that one cannot turn
without the other. The winch roller is fixed to the carriage frame, and on
being turned round, the wheel F (having the weight to sustain) is firmly pressed
to the ground, and the chain acting so low on it, the wheel is like a post to
have a vessell by; and the carriage moves forward on the same principle and in
same manner. The operator sits on a frame of the carriage, and turns the
winch handle with his face forward, his legs horizontal, and the force he exerts
is the power. The upper or slack part of the chain forms no resistance.
Fig. 8, a winch handle, shaft and nutt, to be used instead of the above chain,
the nutt acting on the cog wheel g, Fig. 7, the cogs differently formed on both
(viz. as in common cog wheels).
Fig. 9, a shaft, having a double crank 7, fly wheel 8, and cogged nutt on at 9,
the nutt to act on cog wheel g (as in Fig. 8), or this cog wheel g fixed on any
convenient part of the main axle or neave of the wheel, and the nutt so placed
as to act upon it in the horizontal plane at the axle. The cranks to be worked
by treadles alternately pressed by the feet, which will produce rotary motion
and propel the carriage forward. Turning the fly the contrary way will back
the carriage with great ease, and a lever pressing on the verge of the fly wheel

page_text: retard the motion down hill. I mean to work the carriages or others on a
larger scale by steam engines, where they can be used with propriety. This
method answers in lieu of the ratchett and lever.
Fig. 10, a ratchett wheel k, to be firmly fixed upon axles or shafts of
machinery; it turns within the encircling box 7, in which are the catches.
This box is to be firmly fixed to any other machinery to be worked. With the
ratchett wheel should be cast or attached a lid that will cover the box l, to
secure the catches, and it will conceal all. This is adapted to axles and naves
of carriage wheels, to carry them forward, or permit them to turn, as occasion
requires, and to all other machinery requiring rotary motion. I mean to apply
it to the paddle shafts of steam vessels, as it permits sails to be used when the
wind is fair, without any attending of the crew, as it yields to the motion of the
vessel, without forming any obstruction. It is a complete coupling box for the
fly wheel shaft of a steam engine, to the shaft which works the machinery,
as it does not act upon it if the fly turns the wrong way, but carries it round
when the fly turns the right way.
Fig. 11, centrefugal pump A; the pump with valve at bottom. B, B,
hollow arms connected with the pump at top, having discharging valves C, C, at
their points. The valve on the left appears; the other is on the opposite side
of the right arm (a hollow circular drum of a diameter equal to the length of
those two arms, with discharging valves, would answer instead of the arms);
D, D, a buckett wheel, with its cog wheel (nearly same size) firmly fixed to it,
which acts on the nutt cog wheel E, fixed on the pump; F, the lower cistern;
G, G, sections of the upper cistern, which is a circular though, the outer side of
which is of sufficient diameter to allow the arms (or drum) of the pump to
turn within it, and of sufficient height to prevent any fluid discharged from
them to bee thrown over; H, the trough of the sluice, to convey the fluid to
the buckett wheel from the cistern G, G; I, the trought to convey surplus fluid
to work other machinery, or for other purposes. To give rotary motion to the
pump, it requires the upper and lower cisterns, the pump and arms (or drum),
to be filled with the fluid; water is best; then open the sluice of the trough
II; the fluid flows from the cistern G into the buckett wheel, which revolves
and carries the pump round by the nutt E, giving a great velocity to the arms
(or drum). The consequent centrifugal force acquired by the contained fluid,
and the partial vacuum produced by that velocity at the points of the arms,
together with the pressure of the atmosphere on the fluid in the cistern in
which the pump stands, occasions a discharge of the fluid at the valves there
sufficient to work this pump, and also a surplus fluid, to be conveyed by the
trough I, to work other machinery, or for other purposes, and then be returned

page_text: to the lower cistern F, to be again taken up by the pump, and go through the
same rotire, and so in continuance.
Fig. 12, a rotary steam wheel. A, the steam wheel, with its hinged pistons
(or laddles) B, B, B, B (both of a suitable size) to the work required); C, C, a
circular steam box, in which the pistons move round. It must be turned true
in every part, that the pistons in their revolutions suffer very little (if any)
steam to escape. This box is stationary, being firmly fixed to frame work.
D, the horn firmly fixed to the box C, C. The large end of this horn fills the
box, and answers the same purpose as the ends of the common steam engine
cylinders. The point of the horn shuts the hinged pistons if the wheel is placed
horizontally; their own weight will do it if the wheel is perpendicular. When
the pistons have passed the large end of the horn, they are thrown out by
springs, spiral pieces on the lid, or other contrivance, and immediately receive
the pressure of the steam, which carries them round with great power. When
one piston has passed the exit pipe F, the steam between that and the succeed-
ing piston rushes out of the wheel into the pipe F, being drawn off by the
condenser. The face of the steam wheel is solid, and turned perfectly true, (with
recesses for the hinged pistons, which shut level with the wheel's surface, which
latter exactly fits the inner edges of the box C, C, and thus it becomes a perfect
square close steam box. The wheel is covered on each side by close round
lids screwed to flanches or a rim on the inner edges of the box C, C, and fitted,
to prevent the loss of steam between that box and the face of the wheel; also
at the axis E is the steam pipe from the boiler, with a valve o. (The piston might
be without hinge, and thrown out by a spring or a spiral piece on the lid.)
Fig. 13, a new condensing apparatus, applicable to all steam engines pro-
ducing rotary motion by them to work machinery. F, the steam pipe from the
engine (whether cylinder or wheel), with its air valve F at top; G, the con-
densing pipe in its hot water cistern H; I, I, injection pipes in its cold water
cistern K, having a valve at bottom and the pipe 2 at top, to fill it by; in the
first instance a forcing pump wod ans" without this pipe 2; L, the forcing pump
of this pipe; M, a pump to force hot water into the boiler from the pipe G,
when a high-pressure steam is used; (N, a valve to be opened and shut by the
float in the boiler, to keep the water in it at a uniform height. On the engine
beginning to work, the steam issuing from it rushes into the pipe F, forcing
any contained air on at the valve f. The pipe X fm the boiler with a cock will
free pipes F, P, & O of air, the valve O being open. Immediately open valve
O, condensation commences, and the valve f shuts; motion is thus given to the
pump L, which injects a continued stream of cold water, which condenses the
steam, and in consequence a regular motion is given and continued in the

page_text: engine and machinery attached. The pipe G must be elevated a few feet
above the height to which the pressure of the atmosphere on the hot water in
the cistern H will raise the water in that pipe (the steam will rise to any
height in pipe F, if properly cased or placed inside the chimney flue above the
surface of the water in pipe G (marked by dots); insert the injection pipe I, I ;
it then acts upon the steam, and condenses it, and the water thus produced,
together with the injected water, will flow out of the pipe G into the cistern H,
without any charge upon the engine, as the water already in pipe G is an
equipoise to the atmosphere pressure on the cistern H, and can't.be raised
higher. The pressure of the atmosphere on the cold water cistern. K. raises
the water in pipe I 32 to 33 feet high. Any where below that the force pump
L is to be fixed, and the only charge on the engine is the column of water. in
the pipe I, above 32 feet to the place where that pipe is incested into pipe G.
Very little power is required to work the pump M, as the water in the pipe G
is nearly equal to the pressure of the atmosphere, and aids in forcing hot water
from that pipe into the boiler thro' pipe n, wch has a valve.
The advantages of this apparatus are great, as it saves an immensity of power
and expense in air pumps, condensers, &c., &c., which will appear by com-
paring it with those now in use.
The Drawing is made to exhibit all the part, but they are to be placed in a
compact form; and the pumps L and M may be fixed in a perpendicular situa-
tion to each other, so that the same upright rod may work both, which is put
in motion by a crank or other contrivance attached to the engine. The hot
water runs from the cistern H in a serpentine canal exposed to the air, and
returns cold to the cistern K. The pump L has a solid piston which works in
its cylinder between the two upper and two lower valves, each stroke of which
opens the two diagonal valves and shuts the other two, which produces a
constant flow of water for injection.. The pump M has a common lifting box,
with a valve P, P, the air pump having a solid piston and four valves, to
extract the air as it descends in pipe P from the condenser G. In lieu of this
the air pump, Fig. 15, may be used; P 1, the upper, P 2, the lower part of
air pipe, each of equal capacity; 3, the stop valve box; 4, the stop valve; 5, a
plate connected with valve 4 by a bent lever & moveable with it; 6, a pipe
leading from the boiler to valve box 3, having a cock or valve in it; 7, the exit
valve. Each part of the air pipe 1 and 2 is of a size equal to contain the
air produced in the condenser during a single stroke of the engine.
The valve 4 being open, the air descends into the larger part 2 of the air pipe,
wch is blown out at valve 7 by the first single stroke of the engine, opening the
cock or valve in pipe 6, the steam rushing against plate 5, & shutting valve 4.

page_text: The next single stroke of the engine shuts the cock or valve in pipe 6, valve 4
opens by its gravity, and the air in upper part P 1, of air pipe descends to
the lower part 2, & is blown out as before, & so in succession. If necessary,
a small jett of cold water may be produced by the valve 4 opening, & its
hinge may be made the jett cock to condense the steam, & facilitate the
descent of the air from the upper to the lower part of the air pipe. This
apparatus suppercedes the present air pumps, & condensers, & renders the
great power required to work them available to work other machinery.
N.B. In the Drawing and Specification I have confined myself to the new
principles and improvements, omitting the methods (which may be various)
of securing the parts of the machines in their proper places, as tending to
confuse the Drawing, and being well known to mechanics accustomed to
machinery these may be done agreeable to the taste and convenience of the
purchaser. The ratchett and lever, and fly and pinion, I mean to apply to
what are called horse mills and other machines of that nature, and to the axis
of paddle wheels in common boats (same as steam vessels axles and
paddle wheels), to be worked by the weight of the human body, but in active
motion by the alternate tread of the feet, and to all machines requiring rotary
motion, whether stationary or progressive.
Fig. 14, a wheel skate.
About the
This wheel
The Drawing will sufficiently explain it. A slight bar fitted to the outside
of each leg, (round which they are strapped below the knee). At the lower
end a round pin projects, on which slippers for the feet move.
middle of the bar a round pin projects, on which the wheels turns.
is so fixed as to allow the feet (in a horizontal position) to
the ground, yet so as the toe of the slipper will come in contact with it,
when the skater presses it down, to spur himself forward alternately by his
feet, the same as in skating. A light covering to be placed over the upper half
of this wheel, to prevent the clothes being injured by what it throws up.
float above
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Delap, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-one.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fifth day of July, in the
year of our Lord 1821, the aforesaid Robert Delap came before our said
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Ninetenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-one.