AN ENDLESS CHAIN, OF A PECULIAR CONSTRUCTION, WITH APPENDAGES, WHICH, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OTHER MECHANICAL APPARATUS, IS APPLICABLE TO A VARIETY OF USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1813

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, THOMAS
MEAD, of Scott Street, in the Parish of Sculcoates, in the County of York,
Engineer, sendeth greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King George the Third, by His Letters
Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster
the Twenty-eighth day of April last past, did give and grant unto the said
Thomas Mead, (by the name and addition of Thomas Mead, of Scott Street, in
the parish of Sculcoates, in the county of York, Engineer,) his executors,
administrators, and assigns, special licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority to make, use, exercise, and vend his Invention of "AN ENDLESS CHAIN,
OF A PECULIAR CONSTRUCTION, WITH APPENDAGES, WHICH, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF
OTHER MECHANICAL APPARATUS, IS APPLICABLE TO A VARIETY OF USEFUL PURPOSES,"
within that part of Great Britain called England, His Majesty's Dominion of
Wales and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, for the term of fourteen years from
the date of the said Letters Patent, and to have and enjoy the full benefit and
sole use of the said Invention during the term aforesaid; subject, nevertheless,
to a proviso or condition in the said Letters Patent contained, that if the 'said
Thomas Mead should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of his
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under his hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled
in the High Court of Chancery within four calendar months next ensuing the
date of the said Letters Patent, then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and
advantages whatsoever thereby granted, should utterly cease, determine, and be
void, as by reference to the said Letters Patent may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that the said Thomas Mead, in compliance and performance
of the condition of the said Letters Patent, doth, by this instrument in writing

page_text: under his hand and seal, particularly describe and ascertain the nature of his
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, as well by
a description in writing, as also by delineations of apparatus that will help to illus-
trate or amplify the manner in which the same is to be performed (that is to say).
A general description of the purposes to which it is applicable, is as follows:-
First, steam engines, to be worked by the expansive power of steam, with or
without condensation, or by the power, separately or conjointly, of any other
clastic fluids proper for that purpose, which engines are applicable to the
driving or giving motion to carriages of every description, with or without
assistance of other powers of any kind; secondly, all sorts of mill work for
manufactories where power is wanted, and for driving piles, working of cranes
for the raising or lowering of heavy goods, and for various other purposes of
a similar description; thirdly, for ships pumps or pumps for raising of water or
other fluids, and forcing the saine in large quantities to great heights, if
required, or for raising it in still greater quantities to less heights, if wanted
for some purposes, such as the draining of land and supplying of canals, and
other purposes of a like nature; fourthly, for giving motion to vessels on the
water of various descriptions, and under various circumstances, as occasion may
require; fifthly, blast engines, or bellows for smelting or melting of metals for
foundries, or for any other purpose where a blast or current of air is wanted,
which blast or current of air will continue regular and uniform without the
assistance of a fly-wheel or a cistern of water, or any other of the common
regulations now in use; sixthly, fire engines, or engines for extinguishing fire, or
for throwing a jet or stream of water to great heights; seventhly, water engines, or
engines to be put in motion by a current of water, to drive or work other machinery
with, of any kind; eighthly, engines for ventilating of mines or any other sub-
terraneous works, for ventilating of ships and hospitals, or any other places where
ventilation is required. The following is a description of the mechanism of its
various parts, and of their application to engines for the purposes before recited:--
DESCRIPTION OF THE ENDLESS CHAIN, with its appendages and other
mechanical apparatus, as applied to the driving of carriages by the
expansive force of steam.
Fig. 1, part of a double endless chain, the links of which are of the
common construction, and may be fixed parallel to each other, or not.
At certain distances on it are placed and made fast a number of hollow
cylindrical cups, pistons, or buckets a, a, and one end of each is closed, the
other remaining open with a bandage or packing round its exterior circum-
ference to keep it tight in the cylinder into which it is to be inserted. Fig. 2 is
part of another endless chain, the links of which are of a construction similar

page_text: to Fig. 1, and has pistons at certain distances, like the other; but its pistons, b, b,
are closed at both ends, and the chains may either be parallel to each other or
not. These pistons have bandages or packings round their exterior circumference,
similar to the other, and may be used as a substitute for the other. Fig. 3, the
roller A, round which the endless chain is to be applied. It has grooves with
teeth or spikes in the round part of its circumference, which take into the links of
the chain, to prevent it from sliding upon the roller. In one part of the roller is
a cavity C, for the reception of the buckets or pistons a, a. d, d, are two spindles
for the roller to turn upon, and also for two double cranks to fix to. On each side
of the roller is an eccentric plate, e, e, for the purpose of giving a reciprocative
motion to two rods, f,f. To the lower end of each of these rods is fixed a sliding
piece or valve, for the directing of the pistons when they arrive at or near the
lower end of the cylinder, which will be more fully explained further on. Fig. 4
is a view of the roller A, as placed on its spindles, d, d, in their sockets or
brasses, g. 9, with double branks, h, h, fixed to each end of it. The branks in the
Drawing appear foreshortened, as they are fixed at right angles. Fig. 5 is an
end view of the cranks, roller, eccentric plate, rods, &c. Round the eccentric
plates are two hoops, i, i, to which the rods f, f, are connected, and in which
the plates turn. Fig. 6, one of its sockets or brasses, g, g, drawn to a larger
scale, to show in what manner they are kept tight upon the spindles d, d. The
inner end of the socket J, is made to slide or move on the other or outer part,
K, are tight, the inner part is pushed or moved forward by a screw 7, and
made to press against the shoulder of the spindle, to which its ground are tight.
Fig. 7, a cylinder in which the pistons work. It is of the common construction,
or such as is used in steam engines in general. Near the lower end of the
cylinder is fixed a pipe M, with a cock or valve near its upper end B, to conduct
the steam, &c. from it after it has performed its office. There is likewise an
aperture in two of its sides, in each of which a stop or stud is moved by the
sliding pieces or valves, which is connected with the rods f,f, to direct the
pistons, as before recited. Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are different views of
the apparatus, chains, &c. In all these views the same letters refer to the same
parts. Fig. 8, a boiler composed of the following parts, viz:-C, the outer
case or vessel; D, an inner case or vessel, made fast to the outer one at top and
bottom, so as to leave a space between the two vessels from top to bottom; E,
another vessel, in which the chains, with their appendages, and the roller, with
the eccentric plates, rods, sliding pieces, and the cylinder, is placed. The lower
part of this vessel is surrounded by the vessels C and D, and is connected to
the vessel D by cross pipes, 4, 7, 9, 9, (see Fig. 9,) going from one to the other.
There is a cavity or space left between the vessels E and D, or chimney, all

page_text: round, except where the cross pipes are, for the air, smoke, &c. to pass through.
p is part of the chimney continued, the other part is omitted in all these views.
The cylinder, Fig. 7, is placed in a position parallel to the axis of the vessel E,
and near one of its sides the roller A is placed at a small distance from the
top of the vessel, so as to give room for the pistons to pass clear of its top
when the roller is turned round; the axis of the roller is placed at right angles
to the axis of the cylinder, and at such a distance from it that the pistons may
drop into it without unnecessary friction or shake. n, n, n, is a slip or piece of
sheet iron, or any other metal or substance proper for the purpose; its use is
merely to keep the chain and pistons from vibrating or shaking in their passage
from their bottom of the cylinder to the roller. Under the lower end of the vessel
E, and near the lower end of the vessel D, is the fireplace, and in it is placed
a grate, O, on which the fire is to be made. F is a vessel or magazine for con-
taining fuel; the bottom of this vessel is made conical, that the fuel may the
more readily descend to the regulator at the bottom of it. The regulator is
made as follows:-, a small upright rod or spindle, to which is fixed the small
circular plates; it is supported by a small cross bar t. The lower part of the
magazine ends in a pipe, the end of which is inserted into the fireplace. G, a
cylinder bellows, with piston and valves, upon the common construction. The
pipe or nozzel of the bellows communicates with the pipe of the magazine, and
cannot be seen in this view, as it is hid by that pipe. Underneath the grate O is
may be
a plate or damper, which in this view is shewn as if drawn out, but
pushed in at pleasure; when pushed in it intirely closes the aperture of the
grate, or shuts it up. Fig. 9 is a different view of the same machine, which
has two wheels fixed upon its spindle, to shew how it may be applied in
In
a different manner to the same or to other purposes, if required.
this view the chains and pistons are seen as passing from the bottom of the
cylinder to the roller. u 1, u 2, the sliding pieces or valves. v, a hole for the
admission of fuel before the engine is set to work. Fig. 10 is a close view of
the engine, vessels, &c. F, the magazine. I, a vessel to hold water for the sup-
ply of the boiler. G, the bellows. w, w, part of the wood of the small carriage,
Fig. 14, as shewn with three wheels, to which it is fixed. x, the axis of the
carriage. y, y, two standards, for the support of the engine and branks., a
safety valve which is kept shut with a spring. Fig. 11 is another view,
different from either of the former. Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 8,
but the vessels in the Fig. 8 are shewn open, and in view they are repre-
sented as closed. Fig. 13 is a cross section or end view of the vessels laid open.
When the endless chain steam engine is to be set to work, if the
position of the pistons be as represented in Fig. 8, the chains between the two

page_text: lower pistons will be folded up in the lower one, and covered with the piston
next above it, and one of the sliding pieces, with its stud or catch u 1, will
hold it fast in that position, and the other sliding piece, with its stud or catch
u 2, will hold the piston fast that is next above it. The position of this piston
is such, that a part of the hole that opens into the pipe through the cylinder for
the escape of the steam is above and part of it below the piston. As the hole is
something larger than the depth of the piston, if water is then put into the
boiler, and a fire made upon the grate, and the cock B kept shut, a head of
steam will be obtained. When the steam is sufficiently strong, let the cock B
be opened, and the steam will force down the piston that appears in the
middle of the cylinder, and turn round the roller and eccentric plates e 1 and
e 2 (see Fig. 9), and the eccentric plate e 1 will push down the rod and sliding
piece and catch u 1, that stops the lower piston, till it is pushed quite out of
the cylinder; the other eccentric plate u 2, will then push down the other piston
in its turn, and the eccentric plate e 1 will pull up the sliding piece and catch
u1, and take the next piston in its turn, and the roller will continue to revolve,
and take up the chain and pistons; the cranks will also be put in motion, and
act upon the rod and lever b and a, as described in Fig. 16, and set the
bellows to work, and act upon the rod r, in the magazine, by the lever d, so as
to shake or agitate it, and the fuel will descend through the pipe where it comes
in contact with the blast, and is forced into the fireplace and consumed; the
hole v is now to be stopped, and the damper under the grate pushed in, and
the motion will continue. Fig. 19 is a view of the engine with the chimney taken
off, as applied to the hinder part of a four-wheel carriage. When the engine
is set to work, the cranks revolve in the direction of tho dart,
, or from
A to B. To each of the cranks is connected one end of a pole, stave, or log of
wood L, L, L, L; the other end is shod with iron. C is a light brace or arm
projecting behind the engine, from which is suspended four straps or cords;
each of the straps are also connected with one of the staves or legs in such
manner that while the crank is performing one half of its revolution the strap
is slack, and the end of the stave or leg that is shod with iron is pushed against
the ground, and the carriage is driven forward. When the crank has made half a
turn, and the stave or leg has ceased to act, the strap becomes tight, and lifts
it from the ground, and keeps it suspended while it performs the other half turn,
and then again drops it, and it goes on as before. Each of the other
cranks, with their staves or legs and straps, act in succession and in a
similar manner, and make a step in their turn, and the progressive motion
of the carriage is continued, with a greater or less velocity, in proportion to the
velocity of the cranks and the length of the steps. The ends of the staves or legs

page_text: that are connected with the cranks have cross or universal joints, to permit
them to move sideways. When the carriage is turning or moving out of a right
linc, the fore-wheels of the carriage are turned round by a wheel and pinion.
Fig. 14 is a view of an engine as applied to a carriage of three wheels. The engine
is represented here with its chimney on, and the staves or legs, when in action,
are lifted from the ground by the hind part of the carriage, and the straps or
cords are omitted; the leading or fore wheel is directed by a lever, Fig. 15, to
a plan or flat view of 14. Fig. 16 is a view of an engine as applied to the
fore part of a four-wheel carriage. The fore part of this carriage varies consider-
ably from the common form or construction; the form of the boiler in this engine
is likewise something different from the form of the boiler before described.
Figs. 17 and 18 are different views of Fig. 16. In these three views the same
letters refer to the same parts; the interior parts of the engine are similar to
the one already described. In what this engine principally differs from the other
is the form of its boiler, which is here represented with a larger bottom. It is
composed of three vessels, as described before. The whole of this engine, with its
appendages, is supported by the cranked axis F, which axis is cranked to make
room for the boiler A; B, is the magazine; C, the water vessel; D, the bellows,
which is fixed higher on this carriage than it was on the two others; G, part of
the chimney; E, the other part; F, the cranked axis; a, b, is a lever and rod
which receives motion from one of the cranks to works the bellows; there is like-
wise a small lever fixed to the rod of the magazine (see D). The parts which
surround and support this machinery, and which I call its carriage, are as
follows, viz: Three circular hoops or rings, 2, 3, 4, the two uppermost rings,
2 and 3, are connected by six short bars or pillars, and also by the planges of
the two perches or half cranes, 1, 1; the inner edge of the hoop 3, is formed into
teeth or cogs all round; so the other or bottom ring, 4, is fastened on a plate of
iron, for the support of the engine and its various appendages; this hoop also
carries a pinion p, to work in the cogs of the other ring, for the purpose of
turning the engine, the carriage wheels, and the legs, into any direction that may
be required; the boops 2 and 3 are placed over the ring 4; the ring 4 has
liberty to turn round under the rings 2 and 3, and is kept in its place by the
lower ends of the pillars, which embrace its outer edge for that purpose;
5 is a wheel with its spindle to turn the pinion with, and direct the carriage;
the cranked axis F, is held fast between two forks, which are made fast to the
bottom hoop 4, and between the bottom hoop and the axis is placed a spring
C, by which the whole is supported upon the axis; there is also a seat or
dicky, 7, for the person to ride in who governs and directs the engine and
carriage; the rods or springs which support the seat are fixed to the bottom

page_text: Figs. 34 and 35
plate and bottom rings in such manner that when the engine wheels and
the legs are turned round the seat or dicky is turned round with it.
Fig. 17 is a flat view of Fig. 16, with the upper ring taken off. 8 is a pipe.
and cock to let the water pass from the water vessel to the boiler. Fig. 18 is
a different view of Figs. 16 and 17. Fig. 23 is a view of the three rings and
pillars as before described, drawn larger, and taken apart. Fig. 24 is a view
of the bottom of the boiler A, with its grate and damper.
are different upon views of the endles chain and pistons, Fig. 1, as applied to
engines for extinguishing fire, and pumps for raising of water, &c. 7, the
cylinder as in the steam engine, but without any hole in its sides; 8, a short
cylinder, about the length of one of the pistons or a little longer; A, the roller;
a, a, &c., the pistons, which are in a position reversed from that in the steam
engine; there is also eccentric plates and rods, but which have an office different
to perform from that in the steam engine, their office in the steam engine being
to push the pistons forwards, but here their office is to hold them back or
retarded their motion. There is a section or division in the case Z at y. The
operation is as follows:-Turn the roller in such a direction that the pistons
may be drawn up through the longest cylinder. If the pistous are in the position
as represented in the Drawing, the lower piston in the short cylinder will be
prevented from passing through it by the rod f 1, which has a stud or catch
fixed to it for that purpose. When the next piston is arrived near the bottom
one, the chain will be folded up in the bottom piston, and the rod f 2 will catch
it, and retard its motion, and the rod f 1 will let the lower piston drop, and the
eccentric plate e 1 will raise the rod and catch f 1 to receive another piston,
and the water will flow in at the pipe s, and out at the pipe t, and the operation
will continue thus to go on as long as the roller is turned round in that direction.
Fig. 36 shews how the cylinders are placed in the case. Fig. 37 is a view of
the outside part, 4, of the boiler A (in Fig. 16). Fig. 38 is its middle part, 3.
Fig. 39 is its inner part, 2. It is put together in the following manner :-Insert
the part Fig. 39, with its pipes A, B, C, D, into the part Fig. 38; screw or rivet
fast the pipes to its sides, and insert the two vessels thus fastened together into the
vessel, Fig. 37; and screw or rivet Fig. 37 and 38 fast together all round, both
at top and bottom. The boiler E, C, D, in Figs. 8, 9, 10, &c., is put together
in a similar manner. Fig. 25 shews in what manner the engine may be applied
to give motion to a boat. p, p, p, p, are paddles fixed to the ends of rods or
staves, with a joint to each. When the paddles are pushed from the boat they
are in the position as seen in the Drawing, but when pulled towards it the
paddles yield or open upon their joints, as the resistance of the water may
occasion or require; but these engines may be applied to give motion to wheels

page_text: on each side of the boat, if thought more advisable. A similar method may
be made use of for lighters or barges, or vessels of other descriptions. Fig. 26
is a view of a pump with two handles, and may be used as an engine for
extinguishing fire, by turning its nozzle, and applying a jet pipe. Fig. 27 is a
view of an engine for extinguishing fire, and may be carried upon two poles, as
chairmen carry a sedan chair. It has a small cistern, and boards to fold with
joints for the men to stand upon when it is worked, that it may remain steady.
Fig. 28 is a view of the engine with its boards let down. Figs. 29, 30, 31,
and 32, are different views of an engine on the endless chain principle, for
extinguishing fire, with two fly wheels, and may be made of a larger size, and
worked by six or eight men. It has a cistern and folding boards similar to
Fig. 27. When the engine is to be worked the fly wheels are to be fastened
on the spindles d, d, of the roller, as in Figs. 29 and 30. When the engine is
to be removed from place to place, the boards are folded up, and the fly wheels
taken off from d, d, and put on axis e, e, and the engine may be removed from
place to place with great case and expedition. Figs. 31 and 32 are views of
the engine in a position for being conveyed from place to place. Fig. 33 is a
horizontal section of the fire engine, Figs. 27 and 28; a, the boards, shewn open
or unfolded (the folding boards of Figs. 29, 30, 31, and 32 are of a similar con-
struction, but of larger dimensions; 6, the cistern; c, the case that contains
the chain, pistons, roller, &c. &c.; d, a suction pipe. Fig. 20 is an endless
chain, which, with its appendages, is of a different form and construction from
Figs. 1 and 2. The pistons, 3, 3, &c., are represented square, to work in a
square vessel, as the principles on which this chain and its appendages are con-
structed is better adapted to work in square or parrallel vessels than in circular
ones. The chain 1, 1, 1, 1, is represented as laid upon its ruller 2. In the roller are
recesses or cavities formed for the reception of the pistons when put in motion.
4 is a square vessel, tube, or chamber through which the chain, with its appen-
dages or pistons, have to pass. 5 is another vessel, tube, or chamber in form of
a parallelogram long square, through which the chain, with its appendages,
have also to pass. The four sides of the pistons 3, 3, 3, 3, are made to fit into
the square vessel accurately, by packings being applied to their sides or other-
wise; they are likewise made to fit into the vessel 5 accurately, when turned
(as shewn in the Drawing), by applying two of their sides and their two ends
to the sides of the vessel. The lower ends of the vessels or chambers are con-
nected by another vessel in such manner that the whole may be said to form
but one vessel; or the exterior communication between the upper and lower
ends of the vessels 4 and 5 may be separated by a section or division in any
part of their lengths, as at Fig. 13, and the whole, or only the parts below the
or

page_text: section, may be inclosed in another vessel or case. These pistons may be made
either solid or hollow, as fancy may dictate or convenience require. 6 is a view
of the chain laid flat, and may be jointed in the manner as represented, or
otherwise; it is something narrower than the pistons; it may pass through the
vessel without rubbing against their sides to cause unnecessary friction and
wear of its parts. At Fig. 21 part of the chain is represented as taken off
from the piston, to shew more clearly its joint, which is nothing more than two
loops on the piston and one in the chain, through which a pin is to be inserted
to keep them together; the other parts of the chain are jointed in a similar
manner. There is a portion of the pistons on each side cut away, to receive
part of a link of the chain into that, when the pistons are passing through the
small vessel, that they may not be kept from applying to the sides of it. 7 is a
view of the piston and two links of the chain as they are folded, whilst passing
through the smaller or parallel vessel. 16 is a case surrounding the whole.
14 and 15 are two pipes; 14 is placed above the division, and 15 is placed below
it. The situation of these pipes may be varied at pleasure. At Fig. 21 is also
a view of the roller, as fixed in the exterior vessel or case which surrounds the
whole. 8, the roller; 9, a recess for the pistons; 10, its spindles; 11, the
square chamber; 12, the small or parallel chamber. When this chain, with its
appendages, are put in motion by steam or any elastic fluid, the operation is
performed as follows:-The fluid is to be admitted at the pipe 14, and, pressing
upon the pistons in the vessels 4 and 5 unequally, causes the piston in the larger
vessel 4 to descend, and put in motion the roller, chain, and the other pistons.
When the fluid has passed through the vessel 4, it makes its escape through
the pipe 15, or is conducted to a condenser, or where occasion may require.
The operation of this machine is so simple and self evident that it may be
easily understood by inspection only. If a current of water, in lieu of steam, be
permitted to enter at 14 and pass out at 15, it will produce a similar effect. If
this machine is required to be used as a pump, it must be turned the reverse
way, and the water or other fluid permitted to enter it at the pipe 15, and
make its exit at the pipe 14, from which it may be conducted to a cistern or
place required, or played off in a jet for extinguishing fire, or for any other
purpose to which it may be thought necessary to apply it. When this machine
is required to be used as a blast engine or bellows for smelting or melting of
metals, or as a ventilator for ventilating of mines or ships, hospitals, &c., it
must be turned in the direction last mentioned, and the air be permitted to
enter at the pipe 15, and forced out at the pipe 14, from which it may be con-
ducted to a place required, or permitted to escape into the atmosphere. Fig. 22
is another endless chain, of a construction something different from Fig. 20, as

page_text: its pistons 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, are made to open and shut with joints something
similar to a carpenter's rule. The links of this chain are made much thicker
than the other, in such manner that they nearly fill the smaller vessel as they
pass through it; but either this chain, or the chain Fig. 20, may or may not be
made in this manner, as they will work either way, if the roller is properly con-
structed to receive them. The vessels through which the chain and its appen-
dages have to pass may be similar to Fig. 20, but the smaller or parallel vessel
will require to be something larger, as the pistons will have to pass through it
when shut, and unless they are made very thin will take up more room. In the
larger vessel, 2, 2, the pistons are shewn open, and in the smaller one, 3, 3,
they are represented shut, as when in actual work. 4 is a roller for the re-
ception of the endless chain and its appendages. All the rollers have spindles
at each end similar to each other. 5 and 6 are two pipes, and 7 a case, as in
Fig. 20. These cases may form part of a boiler, or may be inclosed in a boiler,
or not, as may be most convenient. When these machines are used as steam
engines, the lower ends of the vessels 2 and 3 may be connected by a pipe, or
a division or a section may be placed at 8, as in Fig. 20. This engine is set
to work in the same manner as Fig. 20, but when used as a pump the roller
must have recesses or cavities for the reception of part of the pistons, or the
pistons must be made to shut before they arrive at the roller. In either of the
machines, Fig. 20 or Fig. 22, some of the links or different parts of the
chains may be made to fit the small vessels with packings or otherwise, as
shewn in the Drawings of each, and the packings on the top and bottom sides of
the pistons may be omitted. The links and pistons of either of the chains may
be made in a great variety of other forms, as choice may direct or convenience
require, and the forms and dimensions of the vessels may be varied, if thought
proper. Fig. 26 is a view of the case, roller, &c. Fig. 40 shews more clearly
the manner in which the sliding pieces and catches act upon the pistons. In
Figs. 8 and 9 the same letters refer to the same parts. In many parts of this
description I have introduced things that are known to be in common use, to
which I can of course claim no exclusive right or privilege. This has been
done with a view to illustrate and explain more fully the nature of this Inven-
tion, which cannot be confined to any particular form of construction, but will
admit of almost an endless variety; for instance, the roller may be made hollow
or solid, and with grooves or without, and with any number of recesses that
may be thought most adviseable, or they may be made without recesses; the
chains may also be made as they are represented, or they may be made with a
far greater or less number of parts, and these parts may lay parallel to each
other, or not; the links may also be made many different ways, and jointed in a

page_text: great number of forms; the pistons may likewise be made and fixed to the
chains by various other methods, and in any number, as choice or convenience
may direct; and the vessels may be varied, both in their form and dimensions, if
the pistons and they are properly adapted to each other; the boiler may like-
wise be made in the common form, or as in the Drawing or otherwise; the
form of the vessel for holding water for the supply of the boiler may be varied
at pleasure, or more vessels than one may be used; the water may be forced
in by a pump, or permitted to run from it by a cock, as represented in the
Drawing, or otherwise; and the magazine for fuel may be made different, or
there may be more magazines than one, if thought necessary, but there should
be a method, such as is described, or otherwise, of regulating the quantity of
fuel and proportioning it to the quantity of air forced into the fire, that the
combustion may be continued in a complete manner. The fuel that will be
found most convenient for every purpose to which these Inventions are appli-
cable is small coal, small cinders, charcoal, &c.; or if other fuel is used it will
be found most convenient, if of a solid nature, to use it in a similar state. The
principles upon which this method depends, when properly applied, will be found
to be of great value in smelting and melting of cast iron, as the blast or current
of air will not require to be so much compressed or forced through so small
an aperture; and the power of one horse by this method will be found as
effecacious as the power of several are by the common method now in use.
This method is also applicable to the fire places of steam engines of every
description, and to a great many other purposes, and in most cases will be found
to make small coal and small cinders or small charcoal, &c., of equal value with
larger fuel, and in some cases to be far preferable to it. In all these applica-
tions, if well conducted, the smoke is completely destroyed, or rendered invisible.
The blast may be obtained by the common method, or by the endless chain, as
may be thought most advisable. In the application of this Invention to the
driving of carriages, if wheel work should be preferred to the legs or staves,
they may be applied to the axis of the carriage, or by other methods, which
may be found more convenient. The endless chain will also, if applied in the
same or in a similar manner to that in pumps for raising of water and engines for
extinguishing fire, will make very complete air pumps and condensers for steam
engines of every description where air pumps and condensers are wanted. In
many cases where the smoke of large fires are offensive this Invention will be
found to be very valuable; as there will not be any smoke to give the least of
offence, and the expence of a large and high chimney may be dispensed with,
and in many cases, such as blast furnaces and furnaces of steam engines, the
saving in fuel and labour will be very considerable. The machinery may be

page_text: kept in motion for a great while without any attendance, and the small power
required to keep in motion the machinery for that purpose will be greatly over-
balanced by the saving in the quantity and price of the fuel, and in many cases,
in smelting and melting of cast iron and other metals, many other great advan-
tages will be obtained, such as keeping the metal more free from slag and
scoria than it can be kept by the common method, and also in a great measure
prevent its oxidation or calcination, by which means a great deal of waste and
loss will be prevented, and in many cases the metal will be rendered of a much
better quality than at present. If it is thought more advisable, the fuel from
the magazine may be conducted to the fire before it comes in contact with the
blast, and in some cases the blast may be intirely dispensed with; but in all or
most cases it will be found necessary to feed the fire constantly, or at short
intervals.
In witness whereof, the said Thomas Mead bath hereunto set his
hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of August, in the fifty-third year
of the reign of His said Majesty George the Third, by the Grace of
God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King,
Defender of the Faith, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and thirteen.
AND EE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-third day of August,
in the fifty-third year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Third, the
said Thomas Mead came before our said Lord the King in His Chancery,
and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument afore-
said was stamped according to the tenor of the Statuto made in the forty-eighth
year of His said Majesty's reign.
Inrolled the Twenty-sixth day of August, One thousand eight hundred
and thirteen.