IMPROVED AP- PARATUS FOR MULTIPLYING POWER APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY GENERALLY
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 40, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVED AP-
PARATUS FOR MULTIPLYING POWER APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY GENERALLY."
A communication from abroad by Claude Joseph Napoléon Rebour, of Paris,
France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 40, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLYING POWER APPLICABLE
TO MACHINERY GENERALLY. [A communication from abroad by Claude Joseph
Napoléon Rebour, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to apparatus for multiplying power applicable to
machinery generally, and by means of which considerable economy is realized.
This advantage is obtained by the combination of the parts hereafter described,
whereby the four following conditions are realized :-
1st. The complete (avoidance of friction by means of parts, hereafter explained
in detail with reference to the annexed Drawings.
2nd. The employment of the gravity of two weights, so arranged as to avoid
the theoretical objection that a weight can only produce work so long as it is
falling, and that any other condition involves a resolution of forces which cannot
produce any useful effect. By this Invention the contrary being the case, as the
arrangement of the weights shown in the Drawings will prove.
3rd. The utilization of the centrifugal force, and especially the annihilation of
the effects of re-action which diminishes the force by one half, seeing that its point
of application receives a pressure equal to that produced by the original force.
4th. The employment of a new form of clutch applicable to
any rotary

page_text: machine, and may be employed when the machine is running at any speed without
causing any shock.
Referring to the Drawings, Figures A, B, C,-
Nos. 1 represent two horizontal plates connected by pillars 2, secured by nuts.
Nos. 3 are hangers beneath the lower plate, provided with two moveable plat-
forms or antifriction plates 11, resting on nine antifriction balls; these plates
support a horizontal shaft 4, having two collars 5 keyed on it, which rest on the
plates 11, whereby a rolling motion instead of rubbing friction of the shaft on its
support is obtained, so that no lubrication is required, the shaft being retained on
said plates by three end rollers 10 above it at each end.
Nos. 6 are three eccentrics keyed on shaft 4, and so disposed as to avoid any
dead centre.
To reduce friction antifriction balls may be introduced between the eccentrics
and their straps.
Nos. 7 are two sleeves which traverse two drums S on shaft 4, the sleeves being
connected to said shaft by keys working in a keyway therein. When they are
moved to the right or left they put in tension springs contained within the drums 8.
These springs are enclosed by covers, and from the other side of the drums project
two lugs, which engage with the oppositely bevelled gears 9 loose on shaft 4, and
retained in their position by collars on said shaft. These wheels are on opposite
sides of and are driven in opposite directions by a bevel pinion keyed on the lower
end of a vertical shaft 13.
12 is a platform keyed on said shaft, and resting on a smaller platform at the
centre.
14 is a socket bolted to platform 12 and to the lower end of a sleeve 15, through
which shaft 13 passes; on the circumference of this sleeve at the lower part are four
ribs, and at the upper end is fixed a platform, having a groove therein to receive
nine antifriction balls.
16 is a bar, with an eye at the centre, having grooves to receive the ribs on
sleeve 15, and near the ends two slotted uprights with antifriction rollers in the
upper ends for a purpose hereafter explained.
17, two weights capable of sliding along bar 10; they tend to fly outwards under
the influence of the centrifugal force, but are retained by two forked connecting
rods, which act on the long arms of two levers 18 placed above and below bar 16,
and whose short arms are connected by rods to studs 25, fixed on platform 12 near
its circumference.
19 are two posts fixed on platform 12, inclined and slotted at the top to receive
two levers 20 curved in opposite directions, their lower curved ends being hori-
zontal and parallel to the platform 12, and taking under the rollers in the
slotted uprights above mentioned. These levers support the weights, which act by
their gravity on the fulcrums 19, the upper ends of said levers being furnished with
rollers bearing against the under side of an upper platform 23, their office being
to maintain the weights in equilibrium without causing such rigidity as to produce
a resolution of force.
21, arms keyed on the upper end of sleeve 15, and connected by rods 22 with
platform 23, for the purpose of putting the whole apparatus in motion. Below
plato 23 at the centre is a small plate, and beneath that another, which serves to
support the weight of platform 23 and has a circular groove in its upper and lower
surfaces to receive antifriction balls which take the pressure, and is screwed at its
centre to a screw-threaded tube 24 which traverses the upper plate 1, and has a
nut on its upper end above said plate which thus takes the weight; it is below and
in the opposite direction that the re-action of the effect of the centrifugal force acts
on a moveable point, since the pressure is exerted on balls contained in grooves as
above mentioned.
The tube 2+ traverses a cross bar which bears on a bevil pinion on platform 23,
and on the under side of plate 1. It is in this tube that the upper end of shaft 13
is received.

page_text: 26 is another horizontal shaft above top plate 1, mounted in the same way as
shaft 4 by two collars rolling on antifriction plates mounted on plate 1, and running
on balls as in the previous case.
27 are three rollers placed inside the antifriction plate to keep the shaft in place,
without themselves supporting any part of the weight of the shaft and its
accessories.
This apparatus for the multiplication of power may be driven by a small electrical
machine or a steam engine D of very small power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th December 1878.
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 40, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLYING POWER APPLICABLE
TO MACHINERY GENERALLY." A communication from abroad by Claude Joseph
Napoléon Rebour, of Paris, France.
This Invention of apparatus for multiplying power is applicable with con-
siderable advantage and economy to machinery generally, and consists in the
combination of parts hereafter described, in which,-
1st. Friction is completely avoided, as hereafter explained in detail with
reference to the annexed Drawings.
2nd. The gravity of two weights is employed, so arranged as to avoid the theoretical
objection that a weight can only produce work so long as its descent continues,
and that any other condition involves a resolution of forces which cannot produce
any useful effect. The arrangement of the weights shown in the Drawings proves
the contrary.
3rd. Centrifugal force is utilised in a manner never hitherto proposed, and the
effects of the re-action destroyed, which is invariably produced in other known
powers, and which undoubtedly diminishes the force one half, as the fulcrum or
point at which it is applied receives a pressure equal to the original force.
4th. A new form of clutch is employed, applicable to any rotary machine, and
which may be thrown into gear when the machine is running at any speed without
causing any shock.
Referring to Figures A, B, C, of the Drawings,-
1, 1bis, represent two horizontal plates connected by four pillars 2, 2, secured by
nuts screwing on their ends.
3, 3, Figure A, are two hangers fixed beneath the lower plate, and provided with
two movable platforms or antifriction plates 11, 11, resting on nine antifriction balls.
These plates support a horizontal shaft 4, which has collars 5 keyed on it, one at
each end resting upon said plates 11, whereby a rolling motion is substituted for a
rubbing friction, which obviates the necessity of lubrication, the shaft being

page_text: retained in position by means of three rollers 10 mounted on the hangers 3, and
placed above the shaft at each end; b, b, b, are three eccentrics keyed on shaft 4,
and so disposed as to avoid any dead centre.
To reduce friction antifriction balls may be introduced between the eccentrics
and their straps.
7,7, two clutches which traverse two drums 8, 8, the clutches being connected
to shaft 4 by keys sliding in a keyway therein. These clutches when moved to the
right or left serve to put one or other set of wheels in gear to run the shaft the
one way or the other without any shock, and at same time put in tension the
springs contained within the drums 8 on sliding one or other of them up against its
adjacent gear wheel 9 in order to couple it with the shaft. The springs are enclosed
by covers, and from the opposite or inner sides of the drums project two lugs to
engage with the opposite bevelled wheels q, which run loose on shaft 4, and are
retained in their positions by collars on said shaft. These wheels are on opposite
sides of, and are driven in opposite directions by a bevel pinion keyed on the lower
end of a vertical shaft 13.
12 is a platform resting upon a boss at the centro, with antifriction balls running
in circular grooves therein, said platform being keyed on the shaft 13.
14 is a socket bolted to the platform 12, and into which is screwed the lower
end of a sleeve 15 through which shaft 13 passes; on the circumference of this sleeve
at the lower part are four ribs, and at its upper end is fixed a boss having a groove
therein to receive nine antifriction balls.
16 is a bar, having at the centre an eye with four grooves to receive the four ribs
on sleeve 15, and near the ends two slotted uprights containing antifriction rollers,
for a purpose herein-after described.
17, two weights of variable form and size, according to the power to be developed
by the apparatus; they are fitted to slide on bar 16, and their tendency is to fly
outwards under the influence of centrifugal force, but are retained by two forked
connecting rods, which act on the long arms of two levers 18 placed above and
below bar 16, and whose shorter arms are connected by rods with two studs 25,
situated at two points of the circumference of the large platform 12.
19 are two posts mounted on platform 12, inclined and slotted at the top to
receive two levers 20 curved in opposite directions, their lower ends being also
curved as well as being horizontal and parallel with the platform 12. Upon these
levers bear the friction rollers before mentioned, with reference to bar 16. These
levers maintain the weights 17 suspended; their gravity acts perpendicularly on
the fulcrums 19, and the upper ends of said levers are furnished with rollers
bearing against the under side of an upper platform 23, their office being merely
to keep the weights out of equilibrium without producing such rigidity as would
'cause a resolution of force.
21 are arms keyed on the upper end of tube 15, and connected by rods 22 with
the platform 23, through which the entire apparatus is put in motion.
Beneath
the centre of platform 23 is a boss, and beneath this is another with antifriction
balls running in circular grooves therein, and serving to support the weight of
platform 23. The latter boss is screwed at its centre to a tube 24, which traverses
the upper plate 1bis, and has a nut upon its upper end above said plate, which thus
takes the weight; it is below and in the opposite direction that the re-action of
the centrifugal force acts on a movable point, since the pressure is exerted on balls
contained in grooves of the bosses above mentioned.
The tube 24 traverses a cross bar, which bears on a bevel pinion on platform 23
and on the under side of plate 1bis. It is in this tube that the upper end of shaft 13
is received.
25 are two studs fixed on platform 12 near its circumference, and connected by
rods, before mentioned, to the extremities of the levers 18, which are acted upon by
the centrifugal force.
26 is a second horizontal shaft above the top plate 1bis, supported in the same
way as shaft 4 by two collars running upon two antifriction plates on plate 1bis.;

page_text: said shaft has two fly wheels upon it and a bevel wheel at its centre in gear with
the pinion on the platform 23.
27 are three small rollers inside the antifriction bosses to keep the shaft 26 in
position, without themselves supporting any part of the weight of the shaft and its
accessories.
This apparatus for the multiplication of power may be driven either by a small
electrical machine or by a steam engine of very small power, the position of which
is indicated by the letter D in Figure B.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,--
1st. The improved apparatus for multiplying power, herein shown and described,
the chief features of which are absence of friction, utilisation of the force of gravity,
of weights, and of centrifugal force.
2nd. The improved construction of clutch, as herein shown and described, adapted
to this improved multiplier of power.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
AT
ז טל
A. M. CLARK. (LS)