CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM OR OTHER POWER, AND APPLICABLE TO RAISING OR FORCING WATER, TO THE PROPULSION OF VESSELS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1846

page_text: SOUT WORTHS SPECT
АТПО
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EBENEZER
SOUTHWORTH, of Chorlton-upon-Medlock, near Manchester, Draper, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westmin-
ster, the Fifteenth day of October, in the tenth year of Her reign, and
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Ebenezer
Southworth, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
I, the said Ebenezer Southworth, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said Ebenezer Southworth, my executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England and Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN ENGINES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM OR OTHER POWER, AND APPLICABLE TO
RAISING OR FORCING WATER, TO THE PROPULSION OF VESSELS, AND OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the
said Ebenezer Southworth, shall cause a particular description of the nature
of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large annear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Ebenezer Southworth, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof (that is to say):-
My improvements in engines to be worked by steam or other power apply
to that class of engines called rotary or concentric engines, and consist of
certain novel combinations and arrangements of mechanism adapted to similar
purposes for which steam engines are usually employed. Engines constructed
according to the principles of my Invention are equally suitable for stationary,
locomotive, or marine purposes, and are designed to produce a rotary motion
by the application of steam, air, water, or other fluid. These improvements
are also applicable to raising or forcing water, and partially to the propulsion
of vessels, and other similar purposes, as will be hereafter described.
Firstly, my improved construction of rotary engines consists of a hollow
cylinder, through the centre of which a hollow shaft or axis passes, and upon
this axis a triangular vane (or piston) is mounted between two discs, which
work steam-tight in the cylinder and loose upon the central shaft. The vane
or piston is fixed upon the shaft in such a manner that the area of the vane
upon one side of the axis shall be about three times that upon the other side of
the same, and consequently upon steam (water, compressed air, or other
fluids) being admitted into the cylinder at one side of the triangular vane, and,
if desirable, a vacuum being formed on the other side of the same, the pre-
ponderating pressure of steam, &c. acting against the greater surface of the
vane on one side of the centre, will cause the vane and the shaft upon which
it is fixed to revolve, which it will continue to do as long as the pressure is
continued. In using water or other fluids its pressure may be increased
indefinitely by a vertical piston pressing with weighted levers upon the water
in the tube conveying it to the interior of the cylinder.
.
The second part of my Invention consists in a modification of the above
arrangement of machinery, in which I employ a cylinder and hollow axis, the
same as in the engine just described, upon which two discs are fixed, each
having a triangular vane or piston affixed at right angles to it, the apex of the
one being placed in an opposite direction to the base of the other, and between
the inclined edges of the same a circular disk or plate works, fitting steam-
tight in the cylinder, and being loose upon the hollow axis. The action of this
arrangement of the engine will be similar to that already described, excepting
that steam being admitted upon one side of one of the vanes, and, at the same
time, at the reverse side of the other (the opposite spaces being filled with

page_text: atmospheric air or exhausted), pressure is obtained upon both sides of or above
or below the centre, and consequently the power is doubled.
The third part of my Invention consists in a different construction of rotary
engine. In this arrangement of the engine two cylinders are placed in con-
nection with each other, and both having a shaft passing through their centres;
on each of these shafts is mounted an excentric cam fixed between two discs
which work steam-tight in the cylinder. The shafts are geared together by spur
wheels, so that when one cam is exactly over the centre, the other is precisely
in the reverse position below the centre, and between these two cams a sliding
stop piece works, passing through steam-tight stuffing boxes in the outside
cylinders; the cams being slightly elliptical as well as excentric, the sliding
stop piece will always be in connection with both cams in whatever position they
may be. The steam or other power employed is admitted through the
induction pipe above the stop piece in each cylinder, and, acting against both
cams, forces them round in opposite directions, and passes off through the
eduction pipe below the stop piece. This construction of engine is also appli-
cable to raising or forcing water, to the propulsion of vessels, and other similar
purposes.
The fourth part of my Invention applies solely to the propulsion of vessels,
and consists of two nearly semicircular vanes or paddle boards placed upon an
axis at opposite angles to each other, and may be fixed either at the sides or
at the stern part of a vessel, and acting in a somewhat similar manner to the
ordinary "screw propellers."
The fifth part of my Invention applies solely to raising or forcing water or
other fluids, and consists in a modification of the common syphon, whereby
water may be raised higher than its original level. Such being the nature of
my said Invention, I will proceed to describe the mode of operation of these
several improvements, which will be better understood by reference to the
Drawings accompanying these presents, and the following explanation thereof:-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a rotary engine, exhibiting the interior of an
engine as above named, as the first part of my Invention. a, a, is the hollow
cylinder supported by the framing b, b, and c, c, a hollow shaft or axis passing
through the centre thercof. This hollow shaft or axis revolves in bearings
upon the rails or framing d, d, fixed to the cylinder, and upon it the triangular
vane or piston e, e, is fixed, against the inclined edges of which lie two circular
discs ff. being held firm against the vane e by the bracketts 9, 9, and friction
rollers h, h. The discs f.f, swivel upon the ball centres formed upon the shaft
c, c, and are prevented from revolving by pins working in grooves i, i, cut in the
cylinder a, a, shewn in dotted lines in the Drawing; the sides and base of the

page_text: triangular vanè or piston e, e, and the peripheries and centres of the discs f, f, are
packed perfectly steam-tight, and upon admitting steam, water, or other fluid or
elastic medium into the cylinder upon one side of the piston, the space upon
the other side being either filled with atmospheric air or being exhausted, the
preponderating pressure upon the greater surface of the vane acting upon one
side of (or below the centre, as represented in Figure 1,) being three times
that upon the other or upper side, or thereabouts, will cause the piston e and
shaft c to revolve the discs f.f, oscillating upon their centres, and always
keeping firm against the sides of the triangular vane or piston e, e. The
hollow axis c, c, must be formed with a mid feather so as to admit steam upon
either side of the piston for the convenience of reversing the action of the
engine. Figure 2 is a side view, Figure 8 a vertical section, and Figure 4
a plan or horizontal view, of the interior of an engine, being a modification of
the above. These Figures being merely a variation of the principle of the
engine just described, admit of the same letters of reference being placed
upon corresponding parts of the machinery, and constitutes the second part
of my Invention. In this instance the discs f, f, and vanes or pistons e, e,
and shaft c, c, are fast together, being packed steam-tight in the cylinder,
and the disc k alone is loose, and swivels on its centre between the two pistons,
the sides of which are also packed steam-tight. The action of this engine
being merely a modification of the foregoing one, is so evident as to need no
further description.
The third part of my Invention, being another modification of the rotatory
engine, .is. shewn in vertical section at Figure 5, and plan view (with
the upper part of the cylinder removed) at Figure 6.
a, a, are the
cylinders supported by the frames 6, 6; and c, c, are the main shafts carrying
the plates or discs d, d, to which the excentric cams e, e, are fixed. These
excentrics are geared together by the spur wheels ff, and g is the sliding
stop piece, which is always in connection with both of the cams e, e; steam
being admitted by the induction pipe h passes through the steam box i
into both the cylinders, and acting against.the stop piece g and cams e, e, will
cause the latter; together with the shafts c, c, and plates d, d, to revolve in
opposite directions, the steam passing off by the eduction pipe k, k. This
engine or apparatus may be adapted to the propulsion of vessels in the
following manner :-The induction pipe must be made to pass through an
opening in the bottom of the vessel, and the eduction pipe must be divided
into two branches, and pass out on each side, or at the stern at the vessel.
These branches are to be furnished with nozzles which are capable of being
turned so as to point either forwards or backwards. These nozzles being turned

page_text: so as to point astern, and power being applied to either of the shafts c, c, the
water will be drawn upwards through the pipe b, b, and forced out through
the branches of the pipe k, k, and thus impel the vessel forwards. When it is
desired to reverse the passage of the vessel, the position of the nozzles must be
reversed. When this engine is used as a pump for raising or forcing water, power
must be applied to either of the main shafts c, c, and the water will be drawn
up through the induction pipe and forced out through the eduction pipe.
The fourth part of my Invention, which applies only to the propulsion of
vessels, is exhibited at Figures 7 and 8, being side and end views of my
improved propeller. a, a, are two plates of a semicircular form, or nearly
so, fixed upon the shaft b, b, at opposite angles to each other, and at an angle
of about 80° with the centre line of the said shaft. As the propeller revolves,
the action of the inclined planes against the water will impel the vessel either
forwards or backwards, according to the direction in which the shaft b, b, is driven.
The fifth and last part of my Invention is shewn in front view at Figure 9
(being drawn partly in section for the sake of illustration); Figure 10
being a side view of the same, and Figure 11 a section taken at about
the line A, B, in Figure 10: The extremity of the central pipe a (see
Figures 9 and 10) is to be immersed in the water to be raised, and it
will readily be understood that in the position in which the cocks are repre-
sented in the. Figures, the central pipe a, the curved pipe b, and the pipe c,
would form a common syphon. When this syphon is filled with water,.let
the four-way cock d be turned one-fourth of a revolution, thus opening
a communication between the upright tube and curved tube b, and
by means of the spur wheels f and g, opening a passage from the tube b
to the small central pipe h (see Figure 11), the pressure of the atmosphere
down the upright pipe e causing the water in the curved pipe to flow off
through the pipe h. At the same time the turning of the four-way cock d will
connect the pipes a and k, and the toothed wheels f and i will open a commu-
nication between the pipes k and 1, and cause these pipes a, k, and 7, to act as
a common syphon. Thus it will be evident that by turning the four-way cock
d one-fourth of a revolution, the syphons a, b, c, and a, k, l, will be caused to
act alternately, and a continuous stream of water be raised from the pipe a
to the pipe h, a corresponding quantity of water passing off by the long pipes
c and l, the air which is admitted alternately into the pipes band k forming
no obstacle, because each of the pipes c and is longer than the sum of pipes
a and b, or a and k. If the stream of water, at the, pipe h be desired to be
continuous, the water which flows alternately from the pipes c and 7 may
be made to work the four-way cock d, as will be readily understood by any

page_text: practical person; and when no water is desired, the four-way cock d must
be turned one-eighth of a revolution only, and every communication will be
.stopped.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be carried into practical operation, I desire it to be
understood that I do not intend to confine myself strictly to the peculiar pro-
portions or dimensions of the various parts of the mechanism, as exhibited in
the several Figures in the Drawings annexed, or any of the parts or portions
separately employed, but I claim,―
Firstly, as of my Invention the improvements in engines to be worked by
steam or other power, effected by the novel combinations and arrangements of
mechanism or apparatus, which constitute the several modifications of rotary or
concentric engines, as above particularly described, and exhibited in the
Drawings annexed, whether employed as a means of producing or exerting
motive power, by the application or use of steam, water, compressed air, or
other fluids, or elastic media, or for raising or forcing water, wherein the
preponderating pressure acting against the greater surface of the vane or
piston on one side of the centre will cause the vane or piston, and the shaft
upon which it is fixed, to revolve..
And, secondly, the novel and peculiar apparatus above described, and shewn in
the Drawings, as employed for the propulsion of vessels, and for raising water
and other fluids.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ebenezer Southworth, have hereunto set
my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-seven.