IMPROVEMENTS IN MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES
Year: 1858

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Johan Ernst Fridrich Luedeke
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 2nd June 1858.
I, JOHAN ERNST FRIDRICH LUEDEKE, of Marke, in the Kingdom of
Hanover, and of Chipping Norton, in the County of Oxford, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to motive-power engines which act by the alternate
ascent and descent of two or more collapsible air vessels in water which are
mounted on an axis common to both. The axis of these air vessels is sup-
ported on the lower end of a rod depending from an oscillating beam or lever,
while the other end of such beam or lever is connected by a suitable connect-
ing rod to a suitable crank and fly wheel shaft by which the reciprocating
motion of the air vessels is converted into rotary motion, as well understood
in the ordinary steam engine.
The collapsing air vessels are placed in communication with an air reservoir,
in which air is compressed and maintained at a certain regulated pressure.
This pressure is such that the pressure in the collapsible vessels, when at the
lowest point of their descent, is greater than it is in the reservoir of air,
which is the case only in one vessel, the other vessel being at the time at a
higher elevation, the pressure of air in the reservoir is sufficient to enter
such higher vessel.

page_text: In order that the gear in immediate connection with the collapsible vessels
as it descends in the water shall at all times present the same gravitating
influence, I attach a float tube thereto, which as it is further immersed in the
Suitable
water presents greater buoyancy, and effects the object desired.
valves or channels of communication are provided between the air reservoir
and the collapsible vessels. The action of the apparatus is this:-The
collapsible air vessels are, as before mentioned, placed on a common axis,
which being turned half a revolution, first in one direction and then in the
other, places these air vessels alternately the one at a higher elevation than
the other, in which relative position they are rigidly beld during the up and
down strokes of the macbine. Supposing then the air vessels to be at the
top of the stroke, their position is reversed by moving on the axis, as described,
the one at the higher elevation before such movement being distended, and
that which has exerted the rising influence during the up stroke of the engine;
by reversing the position, as described, which is effected by suitable gear
connected with the engine, the expanded air vessel will be in the lowest
position. The descent of the vessels in the water will be produced by the
momentum of the engine and fly wheel; and when the lower and distended
vessel approaches the lowest point of the stroke the pressure caused by
immersion forces the air back into the air reservoir, and it altogether collapses.
Having arrived at the lowest point of the stroke the air passage to the reser-
voir is opened to the highest air vessel (which to this time has been closed);
this causes it to expand to about one-fourth of its capacity, and thereby exerts
a rising force in the water. This vessel expands gradually during the up
stroke, and increases the force of the up stroke until it arrives at the surface,
when this vessel will be fully distended. The reversing of the air vessels on
their axis now takes place, when the descent or down stroke proceeds as
before. It must be observed, that the communication is cut off between the
air vessel which has just delivered up the air to the reservoir until the next
descent; when it is to act as the elevating force in the ascent immediately
following, it exercises no influence.