IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication from abroad by
· Henry Picq, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Architect.
-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patcuts, with his Petition, on
the 3rd January 1873.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
5 of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from
abroad by Henry Picq, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Architect,
to be as follows:-

page_text: and the motions of the tides, or power derived from any other natural
or artificial source, and which cannot be employed at the place where it
exists, to other places where it may be utilized, and consists in the
employment of any suitable fluid such, for example, as water or air, as
the transmitting agent, which fluid is caused to circulate in pipes and
convey the power from an apparatus which is designated a "distributor,"
and is situate at the place where the power is obtained to one or more
machines designated "receivers," which receive and transmit the power
to the various machines required to be driven in their vicinity.
The Invention is based upon the principle that motion imparted to a
fluid at one end of a pipe filled with such fluid is capable of being
transmitted to any body disposed at the opposite end, and the motion is
rendered continuous by a constant circulation of the same fluid being
maintained.
The Invention may be carried into effect cither by the compression or
suction of the transmitting fluid, and the power may be divided and
transmitted to any number of places whatever may be their respective
positions or distance.
According to one mode of carrying out this Invention the dis-
tributor is formed of two cylinders communicating with each other, so
that the transmitting fluid enters by onc cylinder and leaves by the
other. The cylinders contain pistons which are coupled together so as
to work simultaneously, and are cach provided with a valve, the valves
of the two pistons being opened alternately under the action of a cam or
eccentric. The pistons are driven through the intervention of con-
necting rods by the motive-power engine or apparatus from the source
of the motive power which is required to be distributed. Three pipes
with branches are provided of a suitable diameter in relation to the
number and size of the machines to be actuated, two of such pipes
serving respectively to transmit the power to and conduct the trans-
mitting fluid back from the receivers whilst the third pipe conveys the
power to another apparatus which is designated a "compensator," the
object of which is herein-after described.
The receivers are similar in construction and arrangement to the
distributor, but of smaller dimensions, and consist of two cylinders and 3
pistons, such pistons being connected by connecting rods to the machine

page_text: to be put in motion. When motion is imparted to the pistons of the
distributor from the motive-power engine or apparatus the transmitting
fluid is caused to traverse the pipes and act upon the pistons in the
receivers, the motions of which is transmitted to the engine or
machines required to be driven, and the fluid is then conducted back
again to the distributor, thus constantly circulating throughout the
system.
The object of the compensator is to regulate the operation of distribu-
ting the power, so that when one or more of the receivers suddenly stops
working, the surplus power which would otherwise be thrown on the
other receivers, and render their operation irregular, is conducted into
the compensator. Cocks are provided on the pipes communicating with
the receivers for the purpose of opening or closing the
passages thereto,
and also of conducting the surplus power to the compensator when any
one or more of the receivers is or are not required to work.
A pump worked by the motive-power engine or apparatus is provided
near the distributor for the purpose of introducing the fluid into the
pipes, and a manometer is employed to indicate the pressure in the
cylinder; valves are also provided for regulating the admission of the
power to the receivers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patcut
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 3rd July 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in tho
36th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special licenso
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, tho said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,

page_text: and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUs Employed
THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by Henry Picq, of Paris, in
the Republic of France, Architect, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
The said Invention has for its main object the transmission of motive
power such, for example, as that obtained from watercourses, waterfalls,
and the motions of the tides, or power derived from any other natural
or artificial source, and which cannot be employed at the place where it
exists, to other places where it may be utilized, and consists in the
employment of any suitable fluid such, for example, as water or air as
the transmitting agent, which fluid is caused to circulate in pipes, and
convey the power from an apparatus which is designated a "distributor,"
and is situate at the place where the power is obtained to one or more
machines designated "receivers," which receive and transmit the power
to the various machines required to be driven in their vicinity.
The Invention is based upon the principle that motion imparted to a
fluid at one end of a pipe filled with such fluid is capable of being
transmitted to any body disposed at the opposite end, and the motion is
rendered continuous by a constant circulation of the same fluid being
maintained.
T.

page_text: transmitted to any number of places whatever may be their respective
positions or distance.
According to one mode of carrying out this Invention, the dis-
tributor is formed of two cylinders communicating with cach other, so
that the transmitting fluid enters by one cylinder and leaves by the
other. The cylinders contain pistons which are coupled together so as
to work simultaneously, and are each provided with a valve, the valves
of the two pistons being opened alternately under the action of a cam or
eccentric. The pistons are driven through the intervention of con-
necting rods by the motive-power engine or apparatus from the source
of the motive power which is required to be distributed. Three pipes
with branches are provided of a suitable diameter in relation to the
number and size of the machines to be actuated, two of such pipes
serving respectively to transmit the power to and conduct the trans-
mitting fluid back from the receivers, whilst the third pipe conveys the
power to another apparatus which is designated a "compensator," the
object of which is hercin-after described.
"
The receivers are similar in construction and arrangement to the
distributor, but of smaller dimensions, and consist of two cylinders
and pistons, such pistons being connected by connecting rods to the
machine to be put in motion. When motion is imparted to the pistons
of the distributor from the motive-power engine or apparatus the
transmitting fluid is caused to traverse the pipes, and act upon the
pistons in the receivers, the motions of which is transmitted to the
engines or machines required to be driven, and the fluid is then con-
ducted back again to the distributor thus constantly circulating.
The object of the compensator is to regulate the operation of distribu-
ting the power, so that when one or more of the receivers suddenly stops
working, the surplus power which would otherwise be thrown on the
other receivers, and render their operation irregular is conducted into
the compensator. Cocks are provided on the pipes communicating with
the "receivers " for the purpose of opening or closing the passages thereto,
and also of conducting the surplus power to the compensator when any
one or more of the "receivers" is or are not required to work.
A pump worked by the motive-power engine or apparatus is provided
near the distributor for the purpose of introducing the fluid into the

page_text: pipes, and a manometer is employed to indicate the pressure in the
cylinder; valves are also provided for regulating the admission of the
power to the receivers.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
corresponding Figures.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, illustrates in plan the system of piping; it com-
mences at the "distributor" D, which is situate at the point where the
force to be distributed exists; it extends as far as it is required to
convey the force, and is composed of pipes F of suitable diameters in
relation to the number and size of the machines to be actuated. On
these pipes there are branches which conduct special forces to the
"receivers "R.
A second system of piping T (shewn in blue lines in the Drawing)
parallel to the former, brings the fluid back to the "distributor" D,
whence it had previously started; by this arrangement the same fluid is
kept circulating throughout the entire system.
A third system of piping Z parallel to the other two (shewn in red
lincs in the Drawing) conducts the forces to an apparatus C designated
દી compensator," the function of which is herein-after described.
66
The "distributor" (Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, Sheet 2) consists of two
cylinders communicating with one another; the effect of this arrangement
is to obtain a continuous motion, which may be termed a circular motion
of the fluid throughout the entire system; thus it enters by one of the
cylinders and leaves again by the other charged with the power of the
prime mover, which it conveys through the pipes F in order to transmit
it to the receiving apparatus R disposed along the line of piping at the
places where power is required. After having passed through the re-
ceivers the fluid returns to the "distributor by the pipes T. In the
cylinders of the "distributor" pistons P, P', respectively are fitted,
which act together; they are provided with valves which are alternately
opened. The rod M which ensures the working of the valves is actuated
by an eccentric placed on the crank pin of the connecting rods G. The
"

page_text: pistons are driven by the prime mover, the power of which it is required
to distribute, and with which they are connected by means of connecting
rods G, which are coupled together and worked from one crank so as to
cause the pistons to act simultaneously. A manometer is provided for
the purpose of indicating the pressure in the interior of the cylinders.
In order to introduce the fluid which is contained in the entire system
into the apparatus, a pump N is disposed near the distributor, and is put
in operation by the prime mover.
The "receivers" R (Figures 6 and 7, Shect 2) are composed exactly
the same as the "distributor" but of smaller dimensions, the scale for
Figures 6 and 7 being larger than that for Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 of my
Drawings. These receivers may also be so disposed as to impart a
continuous motion like rotatory engines, for example, they receive the
force which proceeds from the "distributor" by means of the pipes F;
the pistons under the pressure of this force act on the connecting rods of
the machine to be put in motion.
وو
R is the "receiver proper which is composed of two cylinders
communicating with each other; the reasons for this arrangement are
the same as for the "distributors." P, P¹, are the pistons which act
under the pressure of the force arriving by the pipo F, and which are
connected to the machine to be put in motion by the connecting rods G ;
M is the eccentric rod which secures the action of the valves of the
pistons.
The fluid transmitting the force arrives in the "receiver by the
pipe F; when this fluid has acted on the pistons it returns to the
"distributor" by the pipe T. A governors (Figures 8 and 9) regulates
the admission of the force by means of the valves S.
A cock K (Figures 6, 8, and 9) is provided on the pipes which
conduct the fluid before arriving at the "receiver," which cock admits
of the introduction or cessation of the force in that apparatus. This
cock is double in order to open simultaneously by the two pipes, and it
is provided with three branches on the pipe F; the effect of this latter
arrangement is to turn off the force from the "receiver," in order to
send it to the "compensator" C by the pipes Z when the "receiver" is
not required to operate.

page_text: The "
compensator" C (Figure 5) has for its object to render the
operation of distributing the forces regular and uniform. It will be
understood that if the "distributor." which operates regularly disposes
of a certain amount of force in order to actuate the whole of the
receivers there would be some force in excess if one or more receivers
were suddenly to cease operating, and it follows that the others would
receive this excess of force which would modify their working.
'
"
"
"
It has been herein-before stated that the cock K has two branches
which allow the force to pass either on the "receiver side or the
compensator side, so that the "distributor may always operate
without meeting with either more or less resistance in order to transmit
the force of its disposal, for if the "receivers" do not receive the force
the "compensator" receives it and vice versa.
It will be seen from the preceding explanations what an important
part this novel system of transmitting power is called upon to perform.
The principal result will be to enable natural forces to be utilized, which
it has not hitherto been possible to employ on account of the situation
where they exist, by admitting of their being conveyed into the places
where they may be utilized, whatever may be the distance. One of the
consequences of the application of the system of transmitting forces by
means of fluids will be the dispensing with all stationary engines
actuated by steam or by any other artificial force..
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention sccured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The mode of transmitting power to any distance by means of a
fluid kept constantly circulating through a system of pipes in connection
with the herein-described peculiar "distributors," "receivers," and
'compensators," the whole being arranged and caused to operate without
any appreciable loss of the actuating fluid, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose herein specified.
68
Second. The peculiar construction and arrangement of the apparatus
herein designated "distributors," "receivers," and "compensators," as

page_text: hercin-before described and illustrated on Sheet 2 of the Drawings
annexed.
Third. The general combination of "distributors," "receivers," and
"compensators," with circulating pipes and cocks, substantially as and
for the purpose hercin-before described and illustrated by the Drawings
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specífication set my hand and scal, this Nineteenth day of
June One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)