IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Smith at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 9th August 1877.
GEORGE SMITH, of Kennington Park, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My Invention relates to an improved mode of and apparatus for obtaining
motive power, and consists essentially in the utilization of the combined forces of
air and water by means of a reversible turbine enclosed in a plain or corrugated
cylinder.
In carrying out my Invention I provide above and in connection with the
cylinder a chamber for containing air which is compressed to the requisite degree
by forcing water obtained from a tank or other suitable receptacle into the
apparatus up to the desired level by the aid of a pump (such for example as that
for which Letters Patent were granted to me dated the 12th March 1873, No. 906)
mounted on the same axis as the turbine or otherwise; or the water may be
introduced, in the first instance by an auxiliary pump if desired.
Valves are provided for regulating the inlet of the water to the compressed air
chamber, and the outlet of the water from the apparatus, which valves are operated
by hand in reverse directions.
When it is required to prepare the apparatus. for work both valves are opened,
and the pump being set in motion water is forced into the air chamber, and thence
through the same into the cylinder until the latter is completely filled, the outlet
valve is then closed, and the motion of the pump being continued the air in the
air chamber will be compressed by the pressure of the water to the requisite
degree.
When the necessary pressure is obtained, if it is not required immediately to
work the engine the inlet valve is closed; but should it be desired to put the engine
immediately in operation the inlet valve is left open, and the outlet valve is also
opened, and water will then be discharged into the tank or other receptacle, and by
its passage round the turbine towards the outlet causing the turbine to rotate, and
water is simultaneously repumped from the tank or other receptacle so as to
maintain the cylinder filled, and retain the necessary pressure in the air chamber
for the efficient working of the apparatus.

page_text: The engine may be worked in either direction by simply varying the position of
the valves.
The air chamber may be connected to the cylinder by a tube, having a check
valve for preventing the return of the water, in which case the water does not pass
through the air chamber, but is simply acted upon by the pressure therein during
its passage through the tube, a cock being provided for maintaining the pressure
in the air chamber when the apparatus
not at work.
The apparatus may be made duplex, that is to say, may consist of two turbines
arranged on the same axis with a pump interposed, the water being admitted to
both turbines simultaneously by passages leading from the intermediate tube before
mentioned.
A movable partition is also employed for separating the inlet to, from the outlet
from the turbines, such partition being moved automatically by the action of the
water into one or other of two positions, according to the direction in which the
turbine is to be rotated.