IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FROM LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bridges Heathorn, of 10, Wilton Place, Knights-
bridge, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPLIANCES FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FROM LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS."
Sealed the 10th May 1878, and dated the 8th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1878.
THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN, of 10, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
FROM LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS,"
This Invention has for its object the construction of appliances whereby the
motive power ordinarily obtainable by means of liquids or fluids may be increased
in a remarkable degree.
For the purpose of this Invention advantage is taken of a hitherto undiscovered
natural law of fluids and liquids, namely, that the force exerted by one fluid
pouring into or against another depends upon the contact of surfaces, and not on
the sectional area of the flowing mass, after the orifice ejecting the flowing mass be
once set in motion; and the Invention consists in making the orifices of the tubes
or other outlets, from which liquids or fluids are ejected when such ejection is used
for the obtainment of motive power, of such form that the issuing jet shall present
a very large superficial surface in proportion to the bulk of the liquid or fluid
ejected. This increase of superficial surface is found to be best achieved by con-
stricting the tube or other conduit of whatever form it may be, so that the outlet
may impart to the liquid or fluid the form of a thin, or a number of thin, issuing
sheets, the circular or other shaped tube being either contracted into a slit-shaped
opening or provided with a disc having a number of slit-shaped openings. Tubes

page_text: or conduits when thus formed and attached to engines, whereby liquids or fluids
may be ejected, will render them capable of exerting a much greater force than
has hitherto been obtainable from them, and is applicable to the propulsion of
carriages on land, vessels in or on the water, and balloons in the air, or as a
destructive force for quarrying, tunneling, or penetrating solids.
The same arrangement of contracted orifices is also applicable to rockets or
projectiles for traversing the air.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
September 1878.
THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN, of 10, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
FROM LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS."
This Invention has for its object the construction of appliances whereby the
motive power ordinarily obtainable by means of liquids or fluids may be increased
in a remarkable degree.
For the purpose of this Invention advantage is taken of a natural law of fluids
and liquids, namely, that the force exerted by one fluid pouring into or against
another depends upon the contact of surfaces, and not on the sectional area of the
flowing mass, after the flowing mass be once set in motion; and the Invention
consists in making the orifices of the tubes or other outlets, from which liquids or
fluids are ejected, when such ejection is used for the obtainment of motive power,
of such form that the issuing jet shall present a very large superficial surface in
proportion to the bulk of the liquid or fluid ejected. This increase of superficial
surface is found to be best achieved by constricting the tube or other conduit of
whatever form it may be, so that the outlet may impart to the liquid or fluid the
form of a thin, or a number of thin, issuing sheets, the circular or other shaped
tube being either contracted into a slit-shaped opening or provided with a disc
having a number of slit-shaped openings.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood, Drawings are
attached hereto, of which the following is a description.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a plain cylindrical tube.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cylindrical tube with one end contracted, so as
to form a narrow slit or orifice.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of a cylindrical tube with one end flattened, so as to form
a narrow slit or opening, but greater in length than that shown in Fig. 2.

page_text: Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the same
Figure.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a cylindrical tube having its end shaped into four
narrow slits or openings at right angles to each other. The number of slits may
be increased.
Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation showing the manner in which a screw or propeller
may be inserted within a tube with an elongated but contracted orifice.
And Fig. 8 shows the manner in which the principle may be applied to the
propulsion of ships; A being the hull; B, the head of the vessel; and C, the stern.
Beneath the stern and in advance of the rudder post the tube D is fixed, having an
elongated but contracted orifice E. Within this tube revolves the screw or pro-
peller F, of which an enlarged view has been shown in Fig. 7. The water enters
the tube at the end marked G, and is screwed or forced towards the orifice H,
where it is ejected in a flat sheet, thereby offering a much larger area of surface in
proportion to the quantity of water ejected than would be the case if it issued
from a cylindrical orifice.
In order to propel the vessel backwards as well as forwards the fore part of the
ship is fitted with a similar arrangement of apparatus, the point of ejection being
a little abaft the stem.
The form of screw may be varied, and any suitable engine may be employed for
giving motion to it.
Fig. 9 is a modification of the foregoing, and shows an arrangement whereby the
water may be driven into and ejected from the rudder I. In this case the tube is
contracted at its hinder part into a portion of a sphere, and the rudder is made
hollow and of such form as to cover the partially spherical end of the tube, thereby
allowing the rudder to turn in whichever direction it is desired. It is in fact
made upon a similar principle to that of the cup-and-ball joint. By these means
much greater facility will be given for the steering of the vessel, and causing her
to turn within a much less distance, than is ordinarily the case. This arrangement
may be applied to both ends of the vessel.
To avoid the introduction of weeds or other foreign matter within the tube, that
end of it into which the water enters is provided with a perforated guard or suit-
able screen or shield, which, while it allows the water to enter freely, prevents
other matter which might injuriously affect the screw from entering with it.
The principle may be applied to the propulsion and steering of balloons in the
air by ineans of a fan or blowing apparatus J, Fig. 10, worked by manual or other
suitable power, the air entering at K, Fig. 10, and being ejected through the
rudder Lat M.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a rocket having a number of slits, made on the
same plan as Fig. 6 at its base. By constructing rockets in this manner a much
less quantity of explosive material will be equally effective as the larger quantity
now used.
Tubes or conduits when formed as before described and attached to engines,
whereby liquids or fluids may be ejected from them, will be found to render avail-
able a much greater degree of force for propelling or steering than when the liquid
or fluid is emitted from a circular aperture.
The principle, in addition to its adaptability for the propulsion of ships, balloons,
and rockets, is also suitable for propelling carriages on land, but as I have not
shown the mode of applying the principle, I make no claim to them.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention, and
the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention,
but 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, the construction

page_text: and application of tubes with contracted orifices for the purposes herein set forth,
and as herein-before described and shown on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bridges Heathorn, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.