IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR ÅDDADAMING FOR COMPARING AID OR BAGER OR POR FORCING WATER
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Johnston, of Lima, Peru, but at present
residing at 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
ÅDDADAMING FOR COMPARING AID OR BAGER OR POR FORCING WATER
"
Sealed the 10th July 1874, and dated the 17th April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Johnston at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th April 1874.
:
I, WILLIAM JOHNSTON, of Lima, Peru, but at present residing at 47,
Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby.
declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING AIR OR GASES OR FOR FORCING WATER," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain modifications of or improvements
upon the Invention described in my Provisional Specification, No. 531,
dated 11 February, 1874, which Invention consists as therein described
in the employment of one or more cylindrical chambers placed parallel
to one another, side by side, and oscillating on or round a common fixed

page_text: axis, such cylindrical chambers (when more than one is employed)
having a regular decreasing capacity, and connected with each other and
the outer one with the atmosphere by means of suitable ducts and
valves.
According to my present improvements I place vertically in and
entirely close the lower half sectional area of the single or each separate
cylindrical chamber by means of a partition attached to the said fixed
axis, so that when oscillating on the latter the cylindrical chamber slides
past or independently of the said partition which remains stationary.
When the cylindrical chamber (or chambers) is partially filled with
water or other suitable fluid and caused to oscillate on the fixed axis by
any available power, the said fluid operates in each chamber as a piston
in a similar manner to that already described in my said previous Pro-
visional Specification, with this difference, that in this case the partition
across the lower half of each cylindrical chamber serves to maintain the
water at nearly a constant level in the chamber during the oscillation of
the latter, whereby the air is more effectually compressed.
2
Water may be forced by any suitable means into the lower half of
each chamber for supplying the waste from the water normally contained
therein by evaporation or other causes. A float in connection or not?
with the said partition may also be used on the surface of the water for
the prevention of "priming."
One great feature in the apparatus here described is that when a series
of chambers is employed less power is expended in delivering the air
through the last chamber of the series at its maximum compression than
is required to produce the same effect where a single chamber is
employed or in the machinery in common use for compressing air.
The whole apparatus here described may be contained in an outer
cylindrical casing filled with water, so as to form a surrounding jacket
to the former for the purpose of cooling or preventing undue heating of
the same.
When employed to pump or force water or other liquids in lieu of air
the machine is entirely immersed in the said liquids, and the said partition
acting as a piston force the water through the valves of cach chamber
in a similar manner as when used for air.
2

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Johnston in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOHNSTON, of Lima, Peru, but at present residing at 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Johnston, Her special license,
that I, the said William Johnston, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Johnston, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING AIR OR GASES OR FOR FORCING
WATER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Johnston, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Johnston, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to certain modifications of or improvements
upon the Invention described in my Provisional Specification, No. 531,
dated Eleventh February One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four, which Invention consisted, as therein described, in the employ-
ment of one or more cylindrical chambers placed parallel to one
another side by side, and oscillating on or round a common fixed

page_text: axis, such cylindrical chambers (when more than one is employed)
having a regular decreasing capacity, and connected with each other
and the outer one with the atmosphere by means of suitable ducts and
valves.
According to my present improvements I place vertically in and
entirely close the lower half sectional area of the single or each
separate cylindrical chamber by means of a partition attached to the
said fixed axis, so that when oscillating on the latter the cylindrical
chamber slides past or independently of the said partition which remains
stationary:
When the cylindrical chamber (or chambers) is partially filled with
water or other suitable fluid and caused to oscillate on the fixed axis by
any available power, the said fluid operates in cach chamber as a piston
in a similar manner to that already described in my said previous Pro-
visional Specification, with this difference, that in this case the partition
across the lower half of each cylindrical chamber serves to maintain the
water at nearly a constant level in the chamber during the oscillation of
the latter, whereby the air is more effectually compressed.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
in
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved machinery or
apparatus; Figure 2, a transverse section of the same on line x, x,
Figure 1; Figure 3, a transverse section of the same on line y, y, in
Figure 1; and Figure 4, a longitudinal section of the same on line 2, 2,
in Figure 1.
A, A1, A2, represent cylindrical chambers of uniform decreasing
capacity placed parallel to one another, side by side, and separated from
each other by circular division plates B, B¹, to which and to each other
they are respectively connected by flanges and bolts, as shown, or in any
other desirable manner. C is a circular shaft rigidly fixed in an outside
standard or bearing D near one end of the apparatus, and passing
horizontally through a stuffing box formed in the centre of the end a of
the combined cylindrical chambers A, A', A², and through the centres
of the division plates B, B', into the centre of the opposite end 6 of the

page_text: said combined chambers, to which chambers it forms a fixed axis. The
end 6 of the combined chambers A, A1, A2, is formed with an externally
projecting journal or pivot c, which is mounted in an outer standard or
bearing near that end of the apparatus. On this journal or pivot and on
5 the fixed shaft or axis C the combined chambers A, A1, A2, and the
remaining apparatus is caused to oscillate or semi-rotate by any available
power. E, E, E, are circular blocks or discs occupying the central
portions of the cylindrical chambers A, A', A2, respectively, and keyed
or otherwise secured centrally on the fixed shaft or axis C. Against the
faced sides of these discs or blocks the faced ends a, b, and division
plates B, B', of the combined cylindrical chambers A, A1, A2, bear whilst
oscillating. The centre portions of the division plates B, B', are elongated
or formed on both sides with sleeves or bosses d, which are recessed into
the corresponding ends of the discs or blocks E, E', E, and form air and
water-tight joints with the latter and with the fixed shaft or axis C.
Placed vertically and longitudinally across, and nearly filling up tho
lower half sectional annular areas of the cylindrical chambers A, A¹, A³,
are partitions F, F1, F2, which are fixed into the lowest portions of the
discs or blocks E, E¹, E², respectively, and remain stationary with the
latter and with the fixed shaft or axis C, so that the cylindrical
chambers A, A1, A2, when oscillating slide past or independently of the
said partitions, which serve to maintain the water contained in the lower
portions of the said chambers (as hereafter described) at an uniform level
during such oscillation. G, G1, G2, are partitions fixed vertically and longi-
tudinally into and entirely closing the upper half sectional annular arcas
of the cylindrical chambers A, A', A³, respectively; they are formed or
fitted at their bottom edges with radial or segmental basc or surface
plates e, c¹, e², which are faced on their concave or under sides whero
they bear against the turned cylindrical surfaces of the discs or
blocks E, E, E³, on which they partially rotate or oscillate with the
partitions G, G', G, and the combined cylindrical chambers A, A¹, A²,
so as to preserve air and water-tight joints thercat. H, H¹, H³, are curved
brackets or arms bolted at their lower ends to the sides or faces of the
lower stationary partitions F, F', F2, as shewn, and carrying at their
upper ends plates I, I', I', which are in the same, horizontal plane on
both sides of the said partitions respectively, and nearly fill up the
sectional annular areas of the cylindrical chambers A, A1, A2, at those
parts. They are for the purpose of preventing priming or undue
disturbance of the water or other fluid contained in the lower portions.

page_text: of the said chambers (as mereafter describ
the apparatus.
Across the faced top of the combined cylindrical chambers A, A', A²,
is bolted or otherwise secured the circular valve box K, in the lower part
of which are ports or passages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, (scen
more particularly in Figure 5) communicating with the interiors of the
cylindrical chambers A, A', A', and arranged as shown, that is to say
the ports or passages 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, are placed longitudinally one on
each side of the partitions G, G³, G³, and serve as the inlet ports or
passages to the said chambers respectively, while those figured 3, 4, 7,
8, 11, 12, are similarly arranged, and serve as the outlet ports or
passages to the said chambers respectively. The end or delivery port or
passage 19, which is arranged transversely, passes downwards and
through the journal or pivot c to an air vessel or accumulator placed in
any convenient position outside the apparatus. L is a hollow cylindrical
valve, which is slightly conical, and is accurately turned and fitted
longitudinally into the valve box K, within which it is caused to
oscillate or partially rotate at proper times, as hereafter described. The
said valve box is divided transversely by division plates into separate
chambers M,M', M², corresponding with the cylindrical chambers A, A', A³,
and is formed with ports or passages 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, corresponding
to those already described in the valve box K in such a manner that
when the valve L is partially rotated or shifted at the termination of the
stroke or oscillation of the apparatus in cither direction the air or gas
entering through the ports or passages 1 and 2 from the atmosphere or
other supply into the cylindrical chamber A (alternately on each side of
its partition G), is compressed and driven from the said chamber through
the ports or passages 3 and 4 alternately into the next, and in a similar
manner through corresponding ports or passages into each succeeding
chamber of the series, decreasing gradually in volume proportionately
to the gradually decreasing capacity of the said chambers until delivered
from the last chamber at its maximum compression or density, when it
passes through the end or delivery port or passage 19 into the said air
A set
vessel or accumulator, as hereafter more particularly described.
screw N is fitted in the inlet end of the valve box K, and adjusted so
as to bear against the corresponding end of the valve L for the purpose
of relieving the said end of the valve box K from the end pressure of the
compressed air or gas acting on the valve L. O, O¹, are valves fitted at

page_text: the ends of the delivery chambers M, M', of the valve L for equalising
the pressure if the compressed air be required at less compression than
the maximum pressure intended, as also the valve O* at the end of the
delivery chamber M² when a higher pressure is required.
The manner in which the apparatus here described operates for com-
pressing air or gases is as follows:-The lower half annular space of
each of the chambers A, A¹, A³, is filled with water or other suitable fluid,
and the apparatus caused to oscillate on its fixed axis C and journal or
pivot c by any available power. As seen in the Drawing the apparatus
has performed half its stroke or oscillation in the direction of the black
arrow and the valve L has its port or passage 13 (which is open to the
external atmosphere or other supply) in communication with the inlet
port or passage 1 of the valve box K and with the interior of the first
chamber A on the side f of the partition G (on which side a partial
vacuum is formed). The port or passage 14 of the valve L (sce Figure 4)
is also in communication with the exit port or passage 4 of the valve
box K and with the interior of the said chamber on the other side g
of its partition G. In this position of the valve L during the continued
oscillation of the apparatus air is entering the chamber A through the
port or passage 1 on the receding side of its partition G, while the air
contained in the said chamber on the other side g of its partition is being
compressed between the latter and the surface of the water contained in
the lower half of the said chamber, which water remains stationary by
means of the partition F, and acts as a piston, driving the compressed
air through the exit port or passage 4 of the valve box K, and the port
or passage 14 of the valve L into the chamber M of the latter, from
which it passes through the port or passage 15 of the valve L and port
or passage 5 of the valve box K, into the chamber of lesser capacity A¹
on the receding or vacuum side of its partition G¹; at the same time
the air contained in the said chamber on the side g of its partition is being
compressed and driven by the latter, and the water contained in the said
chamber through the port or passage 8 of the valve box K and port or
passage 16 of the valve L into the chamber M' of the latter, whence it
passes in a state of gradually increased compression or density through
the port or passage 17 of the valve L and port or passage 9 of the valvo
box K into the chamber of least capacity A³ on the receding or vacuum
sidef of its partition G², and the air contained in the said chamber on
the side g of its partition is being similarly forced in a state of maximum

page_text: compression or density through the port or passage 12 in the valve
box K and port or passage 18 of the valve L into the delivery
chamber M of the latter, whence it finally passes through the end port
or passage 19 into the air vessel or accumulator before-mentioned, where
it is utilized for any available purpose. The apparatus having now
arrived at the termination of its oscillation in the direction of the black
arrow, the valve L is partially rotated or reversed in the valve box K by
means of a projection R coming in contact on each semi-rotation of the
apparatus with a corresponding stationary projection, so as to bring the
ports or passages 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 of the valve L over or in
communication with the ports or passages 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, of the valve
box K respectively. The air or gas now enters from the atmosphere or
other supply through the port or passage 13 of the valve L and port or
passage 2 of the valve box K into the chamber A on the 7 side of its
partition G, and the air contained in the said chamber on the f side of
its partition is compressed and driven by the latter and by the water
contained in the said chamber into the chamber A¹ on the g side of its
partition G', and so on through the series of chambers A, A¹, A', in a
similar manner to that already described, a continuous passage of air
gradually increasing in compression being thereby maintained, and
delivered in a state of maximum density to the air vessel or accumulator
to be applied to work cither machinery, or as blast to furnaces, or to any
other available purpose. By means of a pipe Q any water which
may have passed over with the compressed air is returned to the
chambers A, A³, A².
Provision is also made for forcing water into the lower half of cach
chamber A, A', A³, in order to supply the waste in the water normally
contained therein from evaporation or other causes, and if desired the
entire apparatus may be contained in an outer cylindrical casing filled
with water, so as to form a surrounding jacket to the said apparatus for
the
purpose of cooling or preventing undue heating of the same.
One great feature in this Invention is that when a series of chambers
is employed, less power is expended in delivering the air through the last
chamber of the series at its maximum compression than is required to.
produce the same effect where a single chamber is employed or in the
ordinary machinery for compressing air.
It will be seen that while the pressure of air is constantly increasing
as it passes from one chamber into another, the pressure in rear of the

page_text: column of water will only differ in the amount of additional pressure
obtained in cach chamber of the series.
When employed to pump or force water or other liquid in lieu of air
or gases, the apparatus is entirely immersed in the said liquid, in which
case each partition F, F, F, acts as a piston, and drives the water
through the ports or passages of each chamber A, A', A², in a similar
manner as when used for air or gas.
The apparatus described is simple in construction, efficient in operation,
and works with so little friction as to render the per centage of loss of
power from such source so small as to be practically of no consequence.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be
used or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, in
an apparatus for compressing air a series of cylindrical chambers of
uniform decreasing capacity placed side by side, and fitted with partitions,
in combination with a valve box and valve provided with suitable ports
or passages, the whole capable of oscillation round a common fixed axis,
in combination with stationary partitions fixed to circular discs or blocks
secured to the said axis, so that when the cylindrical chambers are
partially filled with water or other suitable fluid and caused to oscillate,
the said fluid shall operate in cach chamber as a piston, which shall
campress the air and force the same into the next smaller chamber of the
series, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Johnston, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of October One