AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COUNTERPOISING THE WEIGHTS OF BODIES TO BE TRANSPORTED BY LAND OR WATER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FORCE NECESSARY FOR DRAWING OR PROPELLING THE SAME
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Prosper Auguste Maignen, of 22 and 23, Great Tower
Street, in the City of London, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR COUNTERPOISING THE WEIGHTS OF BODIES TO BE
TRANSPORTED BY LAND OR WATER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REDUCING THE
AMOUNT OF FORCE NECESSARY FOR DRAWING OR PROPELLING THE SAME."
A communication from abroad by Adolphe Michel Malé, of Fontenay-le-Comte
(Vendée), in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Prosper Auguste Maignen
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th May 1880.
PROSPER AUGUSTE MAIGNEN, of 22 and 23, Great Tower Street, in the City of
London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COUNTERPOISING
THE WEIGHTS OF BODIES TO BE TRANSPORTED BY LAND OR WATER, FOR THE
PURPOSE OF REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FORCE NECESSARY FOR DRAWING OR
PROPELLING THE SAME A communication from abroad by Adolphe Michel
Malé, of Fontenay-le-Comte (Vendée), in the Republic of France.
"
This Invention consists in an improved method of and apparatus for counter-
poising by means of water or compressed air or gas the weight of bodies to be
transported by land or along canals, whereby the amount of force requisite for
drawing or propelling the same will be much less than that required when the
ordinary means are employed.
The apparatus, which may be formed of any desired and suitable shape or
material, is constructed when intended for use on land as follows:-
The way or track upon which the apparatus is to travel must have an even and
smooth surface. A frame is constructed of any required size, and attached thereto
are projections through which are passed axles carrying wheels of small diameter,
for the purposes of traction when the apparatus is not employed. Within the said
frame a reservoir or receptacle for containing water or compressed air is so placed
as to work therein in a water-tight or air-tight manner in a way similar to the
action of a piston. In order to allow the frame to press against the way or track
in a water tight or air tight manner, the lower edge thereof is provided with one

page_text: or more projecting rims of india rubber covered with canvas, and in addition
thereto are placed a series of bristles mounted on a band, behind which and within
the interior of the body of the frame is arranged a bladder or flexible receptacle
containing compressed air, the elasticity of which will always tend to keep the
whole of the bristles in contact with the way or track, irrespectively of any slight
irregularities on the surface of the latter. Although it is preferred to form the
lower edge of the frame as above described, it is not desired to confine this
Invention to that particular method, as any suitable and known method, such as
bands of india rubber, may be employed for effecting the desired object.
In some cases the way or track is formed with sides, and by allowing the ends of
the front and back of the frame to work against the same in a water-tight or air
tight manner, by attaching projecting pieces of india rubber, or by any other
suitable and known means, the ordinary sides of the said frame may be dispensed
with. It will readily be understood that in this form of construction the sides of
the reservoir must be in contact in a water-tight or air-tight manner with the rails
or other sides of the way or track, and in order to reduce the amount of friction,
wheels or rollers are mounted horizontally on the apparatus in such a manner that
they will bear against the sides of the rails or other sides of the track or way.
By means of these wheels or rollers, or by employing guides to act on the sides of
the way or track, the bottom of the apparatus is always maintained in a position
parallel to the surface of the way or track.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:- -The frame and reservoir having been
arranged on the way or track, a quantity of water or compressed air or gas is
forced by any suitable means through a pipe, which passes through the reservoir or
frame into the space contained by the frame between the bottom of the reservoir
and the surface of the way or track, thereby raising the reservoir until the same
rests on and is entirely supported by the cushion of water, air, or gas so forced
beneath it. The upper part of the reservoir is provided with the platform or other
receptacle for the load to be carried, and as the cushion of water, or air, or gas will
slide along the way or track with little or no resistance, the amount of force
required for drawing the whole will be little more than that required to overcome
the friction caused by the contact of the lower edge of the frame with the way
or track. The reservoir is filled with water or compressed air or gas, and should
any of the water, air, or gas escape from beneath the reservoir, its place can be
supplied by water, air, or gas forced by any suitable means from the latter.
When desired, a pipe may be laid along the way or track and provided with
valves at certain intervals, so that the apparatus can be supplied with compressed
air or gas at any part of its journey, such air or gas being obtained from reservoirs
suitably placed. Or a suitable machine for compressing the air can be arranged in
connection with the apparatus.
It is desirable that the bands or other contrivances employed for obtaining the
air-tight or water-tight contact should be kept moist in order to reduce the friction,
and for this purpose the apparatus may be provided with a receptacle for containing
water or suitable lubricating liquid.
When the apparatus is applied to boats, or ships, or other vessels in canals, the
canal in which they are to travel should be provided with a smooth and even way.
The frame is caused to work in a water-tight manner within a groove or recess
formed in the bottom of the vessel, or in an attachment thereof, so that when it is
not intended to employ the apparatus, the frame can be drawn entirely within the
Baid groove or recess by means of rods actuated from the interior of the vessel.
When the vessel is being charged the frame is allowed to drop to a certain extent,
so that as the vessel becomes heavier the lower edge of the said frame will rest on
the way or track at the bottom of of the canal, thus enclosing a certain amount of
water, upon which that portion of the bottom of the boat which is enclosed by the
said frame bears, the whole of the weight of the boat and cargo being thereby
supported. When desired, the cushion of water, air, or gas can be obtained by
forcing the same into the space enclosed by the frame in any suitable manner.

page_text: Instead of connecting the frame with the bottom of the vessel, it may be connected
to a platform or raft on which the vessel is placed, and when employed for large
vessels a floating dock or large receptacle containing water is placed thereon, and
the vessel floated into the same.
It will readily be understood that when considered necessary, two or more frames
can be employed beneath the vessel or platform in the manner described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Prosper Auguste Maignen in the Great Soal Patent Office on the
25th November 1880.
PROSPER AUGUSTE MAIGNEN, of 22 and 23, Great Tower Street, in the City of
London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COUNTERPOISING
THE WEIGHTS OF BODIES TO BE TRANSPORTED BY LAND OR WATER, FOR THE
PURPOSE OF REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FORCE NECESSARY FOR DRAWING OR
PROPELLING THE SAME.' A communication from abroad by Adolphe Michel
Maló, of Fontenay-le-Comte (Vendée), in the Republic of France.
This Invention consists in an improved method of and apparatus for counter-
poising by means of water, air, or gas the weight of bodies to be transported by
land or along canals, whereby the amount of force requisite for drawing or propelling
the same will be much less than that required when the ordinary means are
employed, whilst at the same time the transport of heavy bodies is greatly
facilitated.
The apparatus consists of a frame open at the top and bottom, and within the
upper part of which is arranged in such a way as to work in a water-tight or air-
tight manner a piston or other suitable contrivance (which is hereinafter referred
to as the piston) for supporting the body to be transported, or for supporting any
receptacle for receiving or containing such body, so that when the frame is arranged
on the way or track the piston or other contrivance can rest on and be supported
by a cushion or body of water, air, or gas confined between the frame, lower surface
of the piston, and that portion of the way or track over which the apparatus is
situated. The frame may be constructed of any suitable material and form, but by
preference it is made circular or with parallel sides and rounded at the angles. On
the interior of the frame and near the lower edge thereof is formed a projecting
ridge, on which the piston rests when it is not supported by the water, air, or gas,
or cross bars may be arranged for effecting the purpose.
The way or track upon which the apparatus is to travel must have an even and
smooth surface, and it is essential that the frame should work along the same in as
water-tight or air-tight a manner as possible, any suitable and known means being
employed for effecting that object; for instance, the lower part of the frame may
be provided with strips of india rubber or leather, the upper fringe of the strips

page_text: being secured to the frame, whilst the lower "feather edge" is kept in contact
with the way or track. The said lower edge is by preference shod with steel or
hard wood to render it durable, or instead of the said strips suitable steam packing
may be employed for the purpose, such as lubricated hemp, asbestos, canvas, and
vulcanized fibre, and any of the said materials may be caused to press against the
way or track in a water-tight or air-tight manner, either by their own elastic
tension or by pressure exerted on them by the water, air, or gas within the frame,
or by a greater or less pressure independent of that within the frame. It is
desirable that the surface of the way or track be lubricated with water or other
material in order to reduce the friction consequent upon the locomotion of the
apparatus. The way or track may be level with the surrounding ground, or it
may be within a channel cut in the ground or otherwise formed. In the latter
case, and also when the way or track is provided with raised sides, the sides of the
frame may be dispensed with, the ends of the front and back of the latter and the
sides of the piston being caused to work against the sides of the way or track in a
water-tight or air-tight manner by any suitable means, the sides of the way or
track serving as continuous sides to the frame, and in some cases in order to
reduce the amount of friction wheels or rollers are mounted horizontally on the
apparatus in such a manner that they will bear against the sides of the way or
track. When the sides of the frame are dispensed with, as herein before described,
the remaining portions thereof, that is to say, the front and back portions, may be
so arranged, by means of projecting ribs and grooves or other suitable mechanical
contrivances, as to be capable of moving vertically independently of each other, so
that when the apparatus is ascending an incline the back can be lowered, and
when descending the front is lowered, whereby the piston and body or bodies
being transported are always maintained in a horizontal position.
If the apparatus be formed with straight parallel sides the latter can be
'constructed so as to project into grooves or channels at each side of the way,
such grooves or channels being when desired supplied with water or other
lubricating material.
When the apparatus is applied to boats or ships or other vessels in canals, the
canal in which they are to travel must be provided with a smooth and even way
or track.
The frame is arranged to work in a water-tight manner within a groove
or recess formed in the bottom of the vessel or in an attachment thereof, so that
when it is not intended to employ the apparatus, the frame can be drawn entirely
within the said groove or recess by means of rods actuated from the interior of the
vessel. When the latter is being charged the frame is allowed to drop to a certain
extent, so that as the vessel becomes heavier the lower edge of the said frame will
rest on the way or track at the bottom of the canal, thus enclosing a certain
amount of water, upon which that portion of the bottom of the boat which is
enclosed by the said frame bears, the whole of the weight of the vessel and cargo
being thereby supported. From this description it will be seen that in this
application of the Invention, the portion of the vessel enclosed by the frame takes
the place and acts in a manner similar to that of the piston hereinbefore referred
to. When desired the cushion of water, air, or gas can be obtained or maintained
by forcing the same into the space enclosed by the frame in any suitable manner.
Instead of connecting the frame with the bottom of the vessel, it may be connected
in a similar manner to a platform or raft on which the vessel is placed. When it
is desired to transport large vessels, a floating dock or receptacle open at the
bottom is provided round the lower edge with a projection which works after the
manner of a piston in a frame, substantially as hereinafter described.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings, in which the same
letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several Figures. Figure 1 is a
longitudinal section, and Figure 2 a plan of the simplest form of the apparatus.
A is the piston, B the frame, and C the way or track. The piston and frame are
shown constructed of a circular form. The body or bodies to be transported rest
on the upper part a of the piston. The piston A can be made hollow, as shown in

page_text: the Drawings, in which case it can be used for containing water or compressed air
for the purpose of supplying the place of any water or air escaping from the body
or cushion of the same contained by the frame, such supply being effected by
valves, force pumps, or any other suitable and known means. The apparatus is
provided with wheels d, d, d, d, which when the apparatus is not in use are
brought into contact with the ground for the purposes of traction. If desired
the bottom a¹ of the piston may be dispensed with. In the Drawings cupped
leathers e, e, are shown for effecting the working of the piston A within the
frame B in a water-tight or air-tight manner. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of
an apparatus in which a receptacle F composed of any suitable flexible material,
such as leather, sheet lead, or steel, or corrugated plates, is provided for containing
compressed air, such receptacle being connected with the piston and frame
respectively at f and f¹. The compressed air or a portion thereof contained in the
receptacle can be introduced into the upper part of the space enclosed by the
frame, for the purpose of supplying the place of any water that may escape. In
this Figure the lower part of the frame is shown provided with an arrangement for
effecting a water-tight contact with the way or tract. This arrangement consists of
a series of bristles G mounted on a band, behind which and within an enlarge-
ment of the frame is arranged a bladder or flexible receptacle E containing
compressed air, the elasticity of which will always tend to keep the whole of the
bristles in contact with the way or track irrespectively of any slight irregularities
on the surface of the latter. The apparatus is shown, in this Figure, arranged in a
channel containing water which materially assists in reducing friction. Figures 4
and 5 are respectively plan and end views of the apparatus shown in Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the floating dock or receptacle for the
transport of large vessels. I is the body of the dock or receptacle which contains
the water for floating the vessel, and which is open at the bottom to allow the
water to rest on the way or track, thereby reducing the amount of friction when
being moved; A is the projection on the lower edge of the dock or receptacle,
which projection works in a manner similar to that of a piston in a water-tight or
air-tight manner within the frame B, and is supported by the cushion or body of
water b contained by the latter. The said cushion or body of water b may in some
cases be kept supplied from the dock or receptacle by the pressure of water
contained therein through any suitable valves or valves. Figure 7 is a plan of
Figure 6.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The frame and piston having been
arranged on the way or track, a quantity of water, air, or gas is forced by any
suitable means into the space contained by the frame, thus raising the piston,
which will ride on the cushion or body of water, air, or gas thus forced beneath it.
As the cushion or body of water, air, or gas will slide along the way or track with
little or no resistance, the amount of force required for drawing the whole will be
little more than that required to overcome the friction caused by the contact of the
lower edge of the frame with the way or track.
When a constant supply of water at a sufficient pressure to support the frame,
piston, and load, can be placed into communication with the space enclosed by the
frame, the latter may be connected to the piston, as the whole will then be capable
of riding on the body of water thus supplied and maintained.
When desired a pipe may be laid along the way or track, and provided with
valves at certain intervals, so that the apparatus can be supplied with water or
compressed air or gas at any part of its journey, such water, air, or gas being
obtained from reservoirs suitably placed, or a suitable machine for compressing the
air can be arranged in connection with the apparatus. When the said pipe is
arranged beneath the way, the valves may be opened through the medium of a
lever by a projection attached to the piston, so that on the latter descending, owing
to the quantity of water, air, or gas beneath decreasing, the said projection will
come into contact with the lever and open the valve when the frame is immediately

page_text: above, and the valve may either be constructed to close automatically, or a second
projection may be provided for closing the same.
It will be well understood that any suitable and known power and method of
applying the same may be employed for drawing or propelling the apparatus.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion
that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting
the Invention secured by the said hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent
are,―
First. The combination and arrangement of a frame and piston, or analogous
contrivance for the purpose of enclosing a cushion or body of water, air, or gas on
an even and smooth way or track, in such a manner that the said piston and any
desired weight may be supported or counterpoised by the said cushion or body of
water, air, or gas, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
set forth.
Secondly. The modification of the frame and piston, in which the sides of the
former are dispensed with, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and set forth.
1
And, Thirdly. The method of supporting and counterpoising the weights of
bodies, in the manner and by the means substantially as and for the purposes 2
herein beforo described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Prosper Auguste Maignen, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.