IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR UTILIZING AND ECONOMISING THE MOTIVE POWER OF WATER OR OTHER LIQUID, and APPLYING THE SAME WITH AUGMENTED FORCE TO THE PURPOSES OF SETTING MACHINERY IN MOTION, AND TO EXECUTE OTHER WORK
Year: 1872

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Edward Eden Hooper
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th September 1872.
I, FREDERICK EDWARD EDEN HOOPER, of 34, Sutherland Place,
Bayswater, London, Clerk in the Civil Service, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
UTILIZING AND ECONOMISING THE MOTIVE POWER OF WATER OR OTHER LIQUID, and
APPLYING THE SAME WITH AUGMENTED FORCE TO THE PURPOSES OF SETTING
MACHINERY IN MOTION, AND TO EXECUTE OTHER WORK," to be as follows:-
This is an Invention for utilizing and economising the motive power
of water or other liquid, and applying the same with augmented force
to the purposes of setting machinery in motion, and to execute other
work. Its general principle is this, that water released from a higher
to a lower level will, from its weight and velocity, and by the employ-
ment of levers, raise its equivalent of water from the lower to the higher
level, and besides effecting this will possess a margin or residuum of
motive force available for other purposes. The water raised being
in its turn allowed to fall, the operation is repeated and the apparatus
becomes self-acting.
The principles of its construction are as follows:-A water reservoir or
broad trough ((a) in Drawing annexed) is fixed at some altitude above

page_text: the ground. The open end of this trough is fitted with a valve (B in
Drawing) to allow of the escape of water. Beneath and longitudinally
parallel with this trough a circular or polygonal drum or cylinder (C
in Drawing) hollow or otherwise, is fixed on a shaft passing through
its axis and rotates thercon. This drum is so placed that water escaping
through the valve from the mouth of the trough will fall or flow
upon a portion of the drum's upper circumference. The width of
the drum is traversed at intervals on its outer circumference by
blades or floats (d in Drawing) to catch the water from the trough.
These blades or floats are hinged or otherwise jointed loosely at their
lower edges to the drum so as to permit them to incline towards it
on encountering upward pressure sufficient to overcome the downward
pressure of a weak spring acting on the upper surface of cach float.
Each float at its extremities is connected water-tight on its upper surface
with the drum by flexible or compressible ends or gussets, which when
extended form the ends of a trough or chamber whose length is that of
the drum's width, and the two sides of which are respectively the
curved surface of the drum and the upper plane of the blade or float,
waste of water off the floats is prevented by a plate or splashboard
bent to and suspended over their path.
Around the outer edge of the circumference of the drum runs at
each end of the drum a slight vertical flange or rim, having at intervals
on its inner surface or periphery studs or projections, each of which
as the drum rotates catches and partially turns round one of the radial
arms of the valve (B in Drawing), thereby causing the valve alternately
to open and close the end of the trough fitted therewith. Upon the
edge of this flange or rim a semicircular segment of a toothed wheel
runs half way round the circumference of the drum at one end, whilst
upon the edge of the rim at the other end of the drum a similar toothed
semicircular segment runs round the opposite half of the drum's
circumference, the two segments or semicircles forming between them
a complete circle, of which the halves are separated by the width of
The outer surface or periphery of each rim is also furnished
with two or more studs or projections, applied as herein-after explained
in connection with the "double- hydrostatic press."
the drum.
Rigidly fixed to the drum on the drum's shaft or axis (at each end)
and rotating with it is a circular toothed wheel (e in Drawing) of much

page_text: less diameter than the drum, and the teeth of this wheel take into those
of a circular toothed wheel of still less diameter (Sin Drawing) which
rotates freely on its own axis on the outer plane of a vertical frame (red
in plan annexed) external to and independent of the drum, i.e. the
wheel (e) gears with the wheel (f) on the outer plane of the frame.
On cither side of the outer circumference of the wheel (S) and at equal
distances above and below a horizontal line drawn through its centre,
are four small pulleys or wheels (g in Drawing) two on each side,
rotating on their own axes on the frame's outer plane. Over the two
pulleys on cither side passes vertically an endless chain or band with
links or teeth so made as to be caught by the teeth of the wheel (S)
which carry one of the chains or bands upwards, while they impel the
other downwards. Incorporated upon and rotating with each of these
wheels or pullics is a pulley of less diameter, and over these lesser
pullies also pass vertically endless bands or chains. To a point on
each of these bands is connected the lower end of a rod or lever¨(h in
Drawing) the upper end of which is arranged to work in vertical guides,
both the upper and lower ends of the said levers being jointed to
allow them free oscillation as they follow the ascent or descent of the
chain or band. The upper ends of these rods or levers are connected
with the ends of other levers (j in Drawing) working on fixed fulcra,
and having their other extremities connected with pumping apparatus,
whether of single, double, or compound action, single, double, or
compound barrel, lift force, or other kinds of pumps, or other apparatus
for the elevation of liquids as may be considered best adapted to
circumstances.
The foregoing arrangement of wheels, bands, or chains, and levers
applies equally to both ends of the drum.
Nearly the whole of the lower half (for the time being) of the drum's
circumference is enclosed in a tank or suitable receptacle (x in Drawing)
constructed if desired in an excavation in the ground or floor and of
dimensions sufficient to allow of the drum's free rotation. This tank
should be as far as possible free from the presence of water. Surround-
ing this tank externally, and divided from it by a sufficiently thick
partition, is a body of water contained in a reservoir of any desirable
depth, shape, or dimensions (coloured blue in Drawing). The water in
this reservoir has its upper surface below or level with the plane of
the ground or floor, and furnishes the source from which the pumps

page_text: or other apparatus for raising water to the upper trough or reservoir
(a in Drawing) are fed. It receives also the water which falls or flows
from that trough over the drum. To effect this the top inner edge of
the dry tank (r in Drawing) at the end next to that part of the drum's
circumference over which the water passes is made to fit closely up
to the drum at a point somewhat below its horizontal diameter, but
not so as to prevent the passage of the hinged blades or floats which
on arriving at this point decline from the horizontal, and the body of
water incumbent upon them is thrown or ejected over the outer edge
of the partition into the reservoir whence the pumps etc. are fed.
Water being raised thence again to the trough (a) again similarly
descends, imparting to the drum rotary motion which is rendered
continuous by the repetition of the process. As the drum rotates the
teeth of cach of the toothed semicircular segments before described
as being upon the flange or rim of the drum, alternately engage the
teeth upon the face of the periphery of a circular wheel (in Drawing)
which rotates on its own axis independent of the drum, in a direction
parallel to the drum's axis but at right angles to the direction of the
drum's own rotation. The diameter of this wheel is equal to the width
of the drum, i.e., to the distance between the outer edges of the rims or
flanges referred to. An alternate rotary motion is given to this whicel due to
its being alternately engaged at either end of the drum with the toothed
semicircular segments on the rims which take into its teeth at the
points of contact of its own horizontal diameter, and that of the drum.
But this wheel (K) is geared or toothed also around the outer edge of
its periphery, to enable it to take into teeth around the lower end of
a long upright shaft or barrel (L in Drawing) upon the circumference
of which runs the spiral thread of a screw. This screw shaft rotates
on pivots or otherwise in proper bearings, but it has no progressive
motion. The gearing around the lower end of this shaft takes into
that of the wheel (K) at the upper point at which a vertical line drawn
through the axis of that wheel would bisect its circumference. The
screw thread upon the shaft is traversed by a suitable uut or tapped
cylinder (m in Drawing) working in vertical guides (y in Drawing)
which prevent its rotating and compel it to traverse the screw according
to the direction in which the shaft may be rotating. Connected with
this nut are the ends of levers or rods, arranged to oscillate on fixed
fulera, and having their other extremities connected with pumping
apparatus, whether of single, double, or compound action, single, double or

page_text: compound barrel, lift force, or other kinds of pumps, or other apparatus for
the elevation of liquids, as may be considered best adapted to circumstances.
It may here be proper to state that all levers to which reference is
made in this Provisional Specification, may be so constructed as to
admit of their being worked separately when desirable, by hand or other
power, independent of the motion imparted to them by the apparatus
of which this Specification treats.
Further apparatus of the following general construction is also
connected with the drum as follows, its object being to apply with
greatly augmented force to the execution of such work as may be
desired, the motive power obtained:- Rotating upon their own axes
independent of the drum, but in the direction of its rotation, are two
small circular toothed wheels (" in Drawing) equal in diameter to cach
other. The teeth of each of these wheels take into the teeth of one of
the semicircular segments before described as being upon the rim of the
drum. Half a complete revolution of the drum, therefore, gives rotary
motion for a period to one of these wheels, whilst the other one rotates
during the remaining half of the drum's revolution. The rotation of
each begins as that of the other ceases, according as cach becomes
engaged or disengaged with the toothed segments on the rims.
Connected connected with the periphery of each of these wheels are the
ends of levers or rods (Q in Drawing) arranged to work pumps in con-
nection with a "double hydrostatic press " constructed as follows:-
Conveniently near to the drum and placed opposite to each other end-
wise, in a line parallel with the drum's axis, are two horizontal
cylinders (P in Drawing), cach similar in construction to the cylinder
of the apparatus known as a "hydrostatic (or "hydraulic ") press "
extending between the cylinders and having a portion of its length in
cach of them, is a ram or piston (or two joined) similar to that of a
"hydrostatic (or "hydraulic ") press" but without table, &c, and fitted to
slide to and fro in each cylinder similarly with the ram or piston of a
"bydrostatic (or "hydraulic ") press" and to be similarly projected or
propelled by means of the pressure, within the cylinder, of water from
a force pump.
A suitable lift and force pump (Z in Drawing)
alternately injects water for a period into each of these cylinders, being
nctuated by the levers (Q) connected with the peripheries of the small
toothed wheels ("). Communicating with each of these cylinders is a
tap or valve (R in Drawing) turned by means of arms or spokes radiating

page_text: therefrom. As the rotation of the drum causes the toothed segment
on one of its rims to engage 'the teeth of one of the wheels (n) a stud
or projection on the outer periphery of the toothed semicircular rim
catches and partially turns round one of the radial arms or spokes of
the valve of one cylinder, which is thereby closed and remains closed
until the teeth of the wheel (n) become disengaged from those of the
segment on the rim, when the valve is opened by another stud or
projection on the rim's periphery catching and partially turning round
another arm of the valve. This arrangement applies equally to the
other extremity of the drum, on which are similarly projections. We
have thus the valve of one cylinder closed during the period of rotation
of one of the wheels (22) which is actuating tho injection from the force
pump of water into that cylinder. During the same period we have
the other wheel (1) at rest, and the valve of the other cylinder (P) open.
It follows that while pressure is being exerted on one cylinder to project
the piston or ram, the contained water in the other cylinder is cscaping,
thereby permitting the piston or ram to pass back in that cylinder
until another partial turn of each valve inverts its operation, and the
process of injection being shifted from one cylinder to the other the
action of the ram is reversed, and the process repeating itself alternate
traverse motion is imparted to it, constituting a strong motive power
available as well if desired for the purposes of wholly or partially raising,
by working pumps or otherwise, the water required to impart to the
drum its rotary motion, as for the general purposes of setting machinery
in motion or applicable to such other use as may be desired.
A mode of applying it for pumping purposes to raise water from the
lower reservoir to the trough over the drum, is shown in the Drawing, the
shaft of the wheel (W) driving the pumping or other apparatus, being
available also for general purposes, considerable speed being given to
it by the means shown. For the sake of illustration a frame (coloured
red in Drawing and plan annexed) has been shewn therein, but as the
frame and supports must vary with circumstances, specification of any
is considered needless. The barrels of pumps with rods and buckets
are also shown in the Drawing, but only for illustration.