IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE PAWED
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pierre Hugon, of Paris, 56, Rue de l'Ouest, in the
French Empire, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY
FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE PAWED"
Sealed the 2nd September 1863, and dated the 9th March 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pierre Hugon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
March 1863.
I, PIERRE HUGON, of Paris, 56, Rue de l'Ouest, in the French Empire,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER," to be
as follows:-
My Invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved machinery; Fig. 2, an end
view, partly in section; Fig. 2bis a side view of one of the tubes A; and
Fig. 3 a plan; Figs. 4, 4bis, and 4ter are different views of a suction pump
hereafter described with my gas pump applied thereto; Fig. 5 is a section of
the cylinder E of the motive engine carrying valves, which may be substituted
for the distributing slides hereafter described, if desired; Fig. 6 is an arrange-
ment of the valves of the generating tube, which may be adopted if desired;
Figs. 7nd 8 are views in section of the slide for inflaming the explosive
mixture hereafter named; Fig. 9 is a view of the fans or blowers for intro-
ducing the inflaming mixture; Fig. 10 is a reservoir for the inflaming mixture.
A, A, A, are tubes in which the combination of the explosive mixture

page_text: takes place, and in which a vacuum is formed (one of these tubes may be
suppressed); a, water suction pipe; B, B1, B2, receptacles for preventing the
water forced from the tubes being expelled outside; b, valve, which may be
placed so as to raise at the commencement of the formation of the vacuum a
rod, which transmits motion to the shaft which governs the slides of the
pump; C, C, C2, C3, C, valves, which open when the explosion takes place
and close when the vacuum is formed; D, D', D2, slides for inflaming the
mixture by means of a gas burner; D', points traversing conical glasses;
d, rod, causing the valve 6 or the piston e¹ to act on the lever 1, Fig. 4;
E, engine; e, stop valve at the bottom of the pipe a of the. suction pump,
Fig. 4; e', piston, which may be substituted for the valve b, Fig. 4bis; F, F,
air and gas pumps, for introducing air and gas in variable proportion in the
tubes in which the vacuum is formed; F, F, F, F7, F8, (Fig. 9), india
rubber fans or blowers, intended for the same uses as the pumps F, F,
(Fig. 3); f, well or receptacle into which the water to be exhausted enters;
G, G¹, G³, G³, G*, slides for the introduction of the mixture of air and gas
into the tubes A; H, H³, H³, H³, slides for the escape of the residual
gases; I, I, slides for conducting water from the cylinder of the engine E into
the tubes A; J, J', slides for admitting water from the basin K into the
cylinder of the engine E, Fig. 1; J, J³, safety valves for the exit of water in
case the machine should not be well regulated; I, I, J, J, Fig. 5, valves
which may be substituted for the slides I, I, J, J, Fig. 2; L, L, valves
putting each tube successively in communication with the motive engine. E;
1, m, Fig. 2, crank attached to the escape slide H; M, M¹, doors or sluices
for regulating the passage of water from the cylinder of the engine, or for
shutting it off altogether; these doors may be replaced by or have attached
thereto valves actuated by regulators fitted to the engine; N, N1, N2, passages
communicating between the tubes and the cylinder of the motive engine E, or
the pipe for raising the water; n, n, n, n, electric wires; n¹, Fig. 2, rod,
attached to the crank l, m, for opening the valves C, C1, C2, C3, by means of
the tappet p; 0, tube for the escape of the residual gas; 0, 0%; tube for
conveying gas to the gas pump; 0%, tube for conveying air to the air pump;
O, tube for distributing the mixture of gas and air by the slides G, G', G;
P, Fig. 10, reservoir for the mixture for setting the engine to work; p, tappet,
united to the valves C, C¹, C³, C³; Q, piston of the engine E; R, piston rod;
r, slide replacing the valves, which it would be necessary to apply to the
pumps. or blowers for introducing the air and gas; S, connecting rod; T,
crank; t, inflaming gas burner; t¹ induction apparatus; U, shaft, carrying the
fly wheel, pulley, and gearing, for transmitting motion; u, gas burner, for

page_text: relighting the inflaming jet extinguished by the explosion; V, V1, V2, V³,
shafts carrying cams for moving the different levers which move the slides of
the engine and of the generating tubes; v, orifice, through which the explosive
mixture passes; X, framework of the machine; x, reservoir, containing a
quantity of gas for supplying the burners; X', water level; Y, grooved cams,
moving the levers attached to the slides J, J'; these cams and levers may be
replaced by double cams acting directly without the intermediation of a lever
on the rod of the slide, as seen in Fig. 4; Z, Z, Z³, rollers or discs, made of
hardened india-rubber, or other insulating material, carrying copper plates,
which transmit the electric spark at the proper moment to explode the
mixture.
My Invention is applicable to steam engines generally, to all hydraulic
wheels or turbines, and to the elevation or exhaustion of liquids. It enables
me to utilize the explosible power and vacuum resulting from the combination
of pure hydrogen or different kinds of lighting gas when they are mixed with
air or with oxygen in variable proportions. To apply this power I take a
tube A, A, A, B, of the form shewn in the accompanying Drawing. The top
of the smaller branch of the tube A is closed by a cover carrying slides D, G, H.
The larger branch of the tube A, A, A, is provided at its end with valves
C, C, C³, C, C, C, C, which remain shut by their own weight; these valves
are immersed in the reservoir B. In a certain and variable part of the larger
branch of the tube A, A, A, there is a pipe N, which puts this tube in com-
munication with the engine E to be moved or with the water to be raised.
The engine E is similar to ordinary steam engines, but the cylinder has two
inlets and two outlets for the liquid. Upon these inlets and outlets four
slides I, I, J, J, (valves may be substituted for the slides). The slides 1, 1¹,
communicate with the tubes A, A, wherein the vacuum is produced. The
slides J, J, with the basin K, where the water driven from the tubes
enters. This engine E transmits, motion to pumps or fans, and to shafts,
which put in motion the different slides of the tubes and cylinder. The engine
works thus: The tubes A, A, A, the reservoir B up to the discharge B¹, the
pipes N, N', N', N³, the cylinder E, and the basin K, say up to the point X',
must be filled with some liquid which is not inflammable, little volatile, and
having little oxidizing or other action upon the metal and other matters of
which my apparatus is composed. When these different parts contain liquid,
as aforesaid, if a certain quantity of an explosive mixture be introduced
through a suitable tap, slide, or valve, into the small branch of the tube A, A, A,
and that there be brought in contact with such mixture either an electric spark,
an incandescent platinum wire, a gas jet (by means of the inflaming slide D,

page_text: which advances to inflame the mixture in the orifice v, and which then recedes
to have its jet relighted, the explosion having extinguished it by the fixed
jet u) or other lighted body, there will be combination of the oxygen of the
air and of the hydrogen of the gas with a considerable disengagement of heat.
The vapour resulting from this combination will become immediately red hot,
as well as the gases not combined, and there will ensure dilatation of the vapor
and of the gases, and considerable power will be produced, which will drive a
certain portion of water contained in the tube A, A, A, through the valves
C, C, C³, C³, C, C, into the reservoir B, which will run out into the basin K,
but in a very short time, the duration of which would appear to depend on
the nature or composition of the explosive gases, the gases remaining after
combustion will cool, and the steam will condense in contact with the water
contained in the tubes A, A, A; the valves C, C³, C2, C3, C4, C, will close
immediately, and there will be a vacuum produced sensibly proportioned to
the quality and quantity of the mixture introduced, at least to a certain extent.
This vacuum may vary; when this vacuum is produced in the tube A, A, A,
it opens the valves L, L, and closes on the contrary by means of the general
pipe N³, the similar valves corresponding with the other tubes A', A2, and shuts
them off in consequence entirely from the machine. It remains, therefore, only
to open the passages M, M¹, and the piston Q of the motive engine E by the
arrangement of its slides I and J¹ becomes on one side g in contact with the
vacuum of the tube A, A, A, and on the other side or face h in contact with
the water of the basin K submitted to atmospheric pressure, and necessarily
this piston works in the direction of the vacuum with an equal force to the
vacuum produced in the tube A, A, A. The piston in working causes the
water contained on the face g to replace a certain portion of that which has
been expelled from the tubes A, A, A, during the combination of the explosive
gases, but on reaching the end of its stroke, the slides I and J¹ close, and the
slides I and J open. The piston is again placed in contact with the vacuum
of the tube A, A, A, by its face h and by its face g in contact with the water
of the basin K. It returns back and makes a back stroke, and the water on
its face / fills up the vacuum still existing in the tube A, A, A. If during
this movement of the piston, which, by means of the crank I, transmits rotary
motion to the shaft U, as in ordinary steam engines in general, there has been
introduced by the pumps or fans F, F, F, F, F, a certain quantity of the
mixture in the tube A, and that this mixture is inflamed at the moment when
the crank completes its entire revolution and has attained the dead point, the
same effect which has been produced by the tube A will be reproduced by the
tube A¹, and the engine E will continue to work, and it will be the same with

page_text: But while
will open, and
open by means
The difference
the tube A, and all the other tubes which might be employed.
the tube A¹ works the engine, the escape slide H of the tube
by the crank l, m, it will cause the tail or finger n¹ to rise and
of the tappet p, the valve or valves C, C1, C2, C3, and so on.
in the water level in the larger branch of the tube A will press upon the gases
resulting from combustion contained in the small branch where the com-
bination of the explosive mixtures took place, and will expel them through the
slide H into the tube O; then the slide H will close; the inlet slide G will
open to introduce the mixture, which will be inflamed at the proper time, as
has been above explained, and these same workings will be repented
indefinetely in each tube. The vacuum forming tubes may be placed in
unlimited number to work a machine by means of the valves L, L, which
insulate them completely from each other. These valves may be replaced by
slides, but this would only be complicating the motions of the engine without
much benefit. The capacity of these tubes with regard to the vacuum
produced thereon may equal at will, say one complete revolution of the engine
or twice the capacity of the cylinder or half a revolution and once the capacity
of the cylinder. In the case of a tube representing half a revolution the
working must be relatively slower, for the escape of the residual gases does not
take place properly, and the working of the engines suffers. Where a tube
representing an entire revolution of the engine, if great rapidity is not required,
two tubes, or one tube divided into two and working as two, will suffice. The
speed of the engine depends then, up to certain limits on the quantity of vacuum
generating tubes and on the size of the inlet and outlet passages for the water
from the cylinder of the motive engine. By means of the pumps and air and
gas blowers, the stroke of which is increased or diminished at will, the quantity
and quality of the mixture to be introduced into the tubes is regulated, and
therefore the vacuum is diminished or increased (always within certain limits)
according to the power to be used. It is useless to add that the position
occupied by the vacuum generating tubes may be varied indefinitely. They
may be placed parallel on both sides of the engine, or on one side only; they
may be placed perpendicularly to the shaft of the engine on one or both sides,
they may be fastened to each other. If more than two are to be employed,
they may be divided by interior partitions, which give them the appearance of
one tube only; their internal or external shape may be round, square,
rectangular, elliptical, or otherwise. If it is desired the cylinder may be
placed in the centre of the tubes, or it may be cast with them. The tubes
may also be cast in a piece with the cylinder and the frame. The valves
C, C, C, L, L, may vary indefinitely both in form and material.
The slides

page_text: for distributing the water in the cylinder may also vary both in form, material,
and position; they may be placed horizontally, vertically, or inclined. The
slides of the tubes may be replaced by taps or valves ad hoc; if desired, the
same, with the slide valves or the surfaces on which they rub, may be furnished
with bronze, brass, or gun-metal plates, or others little liable to oxidation.
The means of moving the slides, whether of the tubes or of the cylinders, may
.be imparted without any lever directly on the rods of the slides by means of
double cams, or by other suitable mechanical means.
The explanations which I have given of the different organs and working
of my apparatus or power generator prove that it may be profitably applied to
work all forms and kinds of engines known as steam engines, whether fixed or
moveable, whether horizontal, inclined, vertical, rotary, locomotive, or marine,
it being only necessary to alter the diameters of the cylinder and the form or
section of the passages for the inlet and outlet of the water. This apparatus
or generator may be applied to exhaust and to raise water to make use of it
for irrigation, or to direct it on to water wheels, turbines, and others, for
which it would only be necessary to lengthen the tube a to extend above the
level of the water to be raised. If it be desired to raise the water to any
height by suction only, it is necessary to superpose a series of tubes from 6 to 7
yards, according to the vacuum produced, fixing the tubes on frames or walls,
which tubes would work exactly by ordinary means of transmission as a series
of suction pumps; these pumps may also be made to work automatically by
the following means-At some point a valve b, which may be replaced by a
piston e¹, is fitted to them. This valve or piston may be placed at any point
in the suction tube, and is intended to put in motion the air and gas pumps,
the inlet and inflaming slides, and those for the escape of the residual gases.
These different operations occur as follows:-At the moment of the production
of the vacuum in the tube or pumps serving to raise water in the same manner
that it is produced in the generating tube for the engine. As the water to be
raised is only from 6 to 7 yards, all the vacuum produced above 6 to 7 yards
may be used to raise the valve 6 charged with a weight, or to the piston e',
and therefore they will raise the lever 1 attached to the rack 2, which rack is
charged with a movable weight X³. This lever turns upon a point 4; in rising
it lifts up the rack 2, which rubs against the ratobet wheel 5 by means of the
spring 3. This ratchet wheel cannot turn back, being stopped by the tappet 6.
But when the valve has passed beyond the point g or the piston e', the
point g, g, they leave free passage to the water which fills the vacuum existing
in the tube a, and when this vacuum has been in part filled, the piston e¹ or
the valve b acting by means of the rod d. on the lever 1 and the rack 2 in

page_text: descending causes, by means of the spring 3, the ratchet wheel 5 to turn; this
wheel is mounted on the shaft which gives motion to the air and gas pumps,
and to the distributing slides from the pump to the tube. The descending
movement of the piston or of the valve is easily explained in this manner that
the escape slide opening first immediately leaves on the valve b or on the
piston e a pressure of water, which causes it to descend with a rapidity
depending on the greater or lesser accuracy in the fit of the piston in the
cylinder, or of the valve on its exterior floating parts, for if the piston or the
valve closed completely and hermetically, the liquid or the water not being
compressible, the stop valve e would prevent the piston or the valve descending.
But if a little play is allowed, or some grooves or other means achieving the
same end are adopted, this valve or piston in descending causes the liquid that
they displace below to rise above them, and at the same time by means of the
toothed rack and ratchet wheels 5 drive the shaft carrying the different slides,
and air and gas pumps necessary to the good working of the pump or machine
for raising water. My apparatus or generator does not cause any shock to
the different machines that it works; the power is produced and stored outside
the cylinder exactly as takes place in an ordinary steam engine, where the
boilers perform the part of my tubes, in which the vacuum is produced. The
substitution of water in the place of air in the cylinders of the engines to be
moved allows of the vacuum produced in the tubes being most advantageously
used, and the demonstration of it is very simple in the following manner :-
If when the vacuum is produced in the tube A, A, A, for example, com-
munication is opened with the cylinder of the engine E filled with air instead
of water, instantaneously and without the engine working (if it is engaged to
be assured of the fact), the vacuum is diminished in the tube A, A, A, propor-
tionally to the volume of air contained in the cylinder of the engine E, and
consequently the useful effect by so much, and this does not take place when
the engine is filled with water. The vacuum then remaining constant if the
engine is engaged, and only diminishing in proportion to the stroke of the
piston, a real advantage, application, or method quite new, and upon which it
is unnecessary to lay_stress.
I specially claim my apparatus for creating and using a vacuum in all the
arrangements and parts which constitute it, and particularly the new method
which enables me to substitute water for air in all engines or machines for
which my apparatus is employed as the motor, and its application to hydraulic
wheels to the raising of water or other liquids for irrigation and otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Pierre Hugon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
HUGON, of Paris, 56, Rue de l'Ouest, in the French Empire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Pierre Hugon, Her special licence that I, the said Pierre Hugon,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Pierre Hugon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "Iм-
PROVED MACHINERY FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Pierre Hugon, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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 Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Pierre Hugon, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that
is to say:-
I have observed in gas engines that the direct action of the gaseous mixture
when exploded to obtain motive power formed a great difficulty in its application
arising from the instantaneousness of the effect produced. I then thought of
employing this instantaneous explosive force by making it act upon an inter-
mediate body. I at first tried air, and caused the explosive force to compress
the air in a receiver, the air afterwards pressed upon one face of a piston,
while the vacuum produced in the tube from which the air had been expelled
caused a vacuum on the other face and moved the piston. But the great
elasticity of air and the short duration of the explosion, or the high tem-
perature produced caused unsatisfactory results.

page_text: Now the present Invention consists in the employment of water instead of
compressed air, and in causing the explosive force of the gaseous mixture to
act upon an intermediate column of water, and thus indirectly upon the piston.
The cylinder, in which the piston works, is separated from the tubes wherein
the explosion takes place; the power resulting from the dilatation of the gases
is employed to expel a certain quantity of water from the explosion tube and
to produce a vacuum, the effect of which is added to that due to the conden-
sation of steam arising from the combination of the hydrogen and oxygen and
can be utilized in the cylinder.
The several reservoirs of the engine are arranged in such manner that the
same water always circulates in the engine, and that that which has been
expelled from the tube fills the cylinder on the side opposite to the chamber,
which is at the moment in connection with the vacuum produced. The
cylinder being originally full of water it is the exhausting towards the vacuum
of the liquid contained in one of the chambers which produces the movement
of the piston; the water expelled from the tube which fills the opposite
chamber, the capacity of which increases gradually, acts in the same manner
at the following explosion. The result of this method of employing the power
produced at the instant of the combination of the gases is that the shock pro-
duced by the sudden and instantaneous dilatation of the mixture is not
transmitted immediately to the motive parts; the power is applied to an
independent liquid, which is freely displaced by the pressure exercised upon its
surface. The contact of the gaseous residuum with water, the temperature
of which never exceeds 113° Fahrenheit, allows the steam produced to be
partly condensed and to increase owing to expansion. The utilization of the
vacuum is rendered as perfect as possible by the presence of water in all parts
of the engine, for it is never filled except by columns of liquid, the movement
of which determines that of the piston. Water enters every part of the
engine; it is water which, displaced by water when the explosion takes place,
makes the vacum as perfect as possible.
My engine is therefore an engine of indirect action; it utilizes the explosive
force, and the vacuum resulting from the combination of different kinds of gas
mixed with air, and when the explosion of the gas takes place a vacuum is
formed in a tube or chamber separated from the cylinder, and produces by the
displacement of an intermediate column of water the to-and-fro movement of
the piston, and consequently the rotation of the driving shaft of the engine.
My Invention is thus based upon the substitution for the direct action of
ordinary gas engines of an indirect action, which is exerted by means of an
intermediate column of water upon the surface of the piston when the explo-

page_text: sure of the mixture takes place. The explosion of the gaseous mixture is
produced at the top of the column of water intended as the medium to change
the sudden effect of the explosion to an effect more easily utilized.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention in general terms, I
proceed by the aid of the accompanying Drawings to describe the manner in
which I carry it into effect.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved machinery; Figure 2 an end
view, partly in section; Figure 2b a side view of one of the tubes A; and
Figure 3 a plan of my engine and gas pump; Figures 4, 4b, and 4tor, are
different views of a section pump, hereafter described, with my gas pump applied
thereto; Figure 5 is a section of the cylinder E of the motive engine, carrying
valves I, I, J, J, which may be substituted for the distributing slides I, I',J,J',
Figure 2; Figure 6 shows an arrangement of the valves of the generating
tube, which may be adopted; Figures 7 and 8 are views in section of the
slide D, for inflaming the mixture of gas and air enclosed in the box x with
passage through the tube v; Figure 9 is a view of the fans or blowers F*
to F8 for introducing the inflaming mixture; Figure 10 shows a reservoir P
for the inflaming mixture.
A, A', A³, are tubes of syphon-form, in which the combination of the explo-
sive mixture takes place, and in which the vacuum is formed. The same
effect is produced in each of the tubes A, A1, A2, the number of which may
be varied; these tubes are surmounted by as many receptacles B, B', B2,
which prevent the water forced from the tubes being expelled outside. The
smaller branch of the tube A is closed by a cover with slides D, G, H,
Figure 3; the larger branch of this tube has valves C, C³, C2, C3, C4, at its
extremity, which remain closed by their own weight. These valves are
immersed in a reservoir B, Figure 2. In a certain variable part of the larger
branch of the tube A is a passage N connecting it with the cylinder E of the
engine. This cylinder has two inlets and two outlets for the liquid. Upon
these inlets and outlets are four slides I, I, J, J', Figure 2; the slides I, I',
communicate with the tube A, wherein the vacuum is produced, and the slides
J, J', with the basin K, where the water driven from the tubes enters. Gas
enters the gas pump by tubes O', O2, Figure 3, and air enters the air pump by
the tube 0. The distribution of the mixture of air and gas takes place by
the tube O'. The rod R of the piston Q of the cylinder E transmits motion
to the air and gas blowers or fans F, F1, F2, F3, through the connecting rod S,
crank T, and shaft U (see Figures 3, 4, and 4ter). The shaft U transmits the
motion through suitable gear to the shafts V, V, V, V, which actuate through
cams Y and levers Z, the slides of the tubes A, A1, A2, and of the cylinder E.

page_text: Electric wires n put the induction apparatus t¹ in communication with the
slides G, G, G; Z, Z, Z², are rollers carrying plates for inflaming the
mixture.
Before setting the machinery to work the tubes A, A1, A2, the reservoirs
B, B', B, the tubes N, N1, N2, the cylinder E, and the basin K, up to about
the point X', Figure 2, must be filled with water. When these different parts
contain liquid as aforesaid, if a certain quantity of an explosive mixture be intro-
duced through a suitable tap, slide, or valve into the small branch of the tube
A, A, A, and if there be brought in contact with such mixture either an
electric spark an incandescent platinum wire a gas jet (by means of the
inflaming slide D, Figures 7 and 8, which advances to inflame the mixture in
the orifice v, and which then recedes to have its jet t relighted, the explosion
having extinguished it by the fixed jet u), there will be combination of the
oxygen of the air and of the hydrogen of the gas, with a considerable disen-
gagement of heat.
The vapour resulting from this combination will become
immediately red hot, as well as the gases not combined, and there will ensue
dilatation of the vapor and of the gases, and considerable power will be pro-
duced, which will drive a certain portion of water contained in the tube A
through the valves C, C1, C2, C3, into the reservoir B, which will run out into
the basin K; but in a very short time the gases remaining after combustion
will cool, and the steam will condense in contact with the water contained in
the tube A. The valves C, C¹, C³, C³, will close immediately, and there will
be a vacuum produced proportional to the quality and quantity of the mixture
introduced, at least to a certain extent. This vacuum may vary; when produced
in the tnbe A it opens the valves L, L, and closes on the contrary, by nieans of
the pipe N³, the similar valves corresponding with the other tubes A¹, A³, and
shuts them off in consequence from the machine. It remains therefore only
to open the passages M, M', and the piston Q of the motive engine E by the
arrangement of its slides I and J¹, becomes on one side g, in contact with the
vacuum of the tube A, and on the other side or face h in contact with
the water of the basin K submitted to atmospheric pressure; this piston
necessarily works in the direction of the vacuum with a force equal to the
vacuum produced in the tube A. The piston in working causes the water con-
tained on the face g to replace a certain portion of that which has been expelled
from the tube A during the combination of the explosive gases, but on
reaching the end of its stroke the slides I and J'close, and the slides I' and J
open. The piston is again placed in contact with the vacuum of the tube A
by its face h, and its face g is then in contact with the water in the basin K..
It returns back or makes a back stroke, and the water on its face h fills up the

page_text: vacuum still existing in the tube A. If during this movement of the piston
which by means of the crank T transmits rotary motion to the shaft U, as in
ordinary steam engines, there has been introduced by the pumps or fans
F, F, F, F, F, Figure 9, a certain quantity of the mixture in the tube A³,
and this mixture is inflamed at the moment when the crank completes its
entire revolution and has attained the dead point, the same effect which has
been produced by the tube A will be reproduced by the tube A', and the
engine E will continue to work; it will be the same with the tube A² and all
the other tubes which might be employed. But while the tube A¹ works the
engine, the escape slide H of the tube A will open, and by the crank l, m,
Figure 2, will cause the tail or finger n¹ to rise, and by means of the tappet p
open the valve or valves C, C¹, C², C³. Pressure due to the difference in the
water level in the larger branch of the tube A will press upon the gases resulting
from combustion contained in the small branch where the combination of the
explosive mixture took place, and will expel them through the slide H into
the tube O; then the slide H will close. The inlet slide G will open to intro-
duce the mixture, which will be inflamed at the proper time, as has been
above explained, and these same workings will be repeated indefinitely in each
tube.
Figures 7 and 8 bis are views in longitudinal section and plan respectively
of another arrangement for producing the explosion of the gaseous mixture.
In the top of the cylinder is a passage v leading to the inflaming slide D; this
slide has two orifices v1, v2; the orifice v³ is for the passage of the gas from the
boxx to the passage v; this orifice is slightly oblique. The orifice ³ contains
the inflaming gas jet t. The inlet tube ³ for the gaseous mixture not being
in a prolongation of the passage v, the result is, that when the slide D is at
the middle of its course (as seen in Figure 7) the gaseous mixture has no
communication with the upper inlet tube ³, but when the slide B is at the
end of its course, the orifice v³ is directly above the passage v; the tube is
closed by the slide D, and the gas jet t immediately inflames the gaseous mix-
When on the contrary the slide is at the commencement of its course,
the orifice puts the two passages and v in communication, and the gaseous
mixture enters the chamber which is then in connection with it; the orifice
is then altogether outside the slide, and the jet t which was extinguished by
the explosion, is relighted by the jet t³, which is always burning. The move-
ment of the various parts is effected by the shaft V, the double cam Y' of
which successively produces the inlet and the inflaming of the mixture, while
the cam Ys actuates the escape slide H. In order that the quality of the mix-
ture may be ascertained, there is a small sight hole in the side of the apparatus
ture.

page_text: through which the interior may be viewed. The vacuum-forming tubes
A, A', A³, may be placed unlimited number to work a machine by means of the
valves L, L', which insulate them completely from each other. The speed of the
engine depends up to certain limits on the degree of vacuum generating tubes
and on the size of the inlet and outlet passages for the water from the cylinder of
the motive engine. By means of the pumps and air and gas blowers, the stroke
of which is increased or diminished at will, the quantity and quality of the
mixture to be introduced into the tubes is regulated, and therefore the vacuum
is diminished or increased (always within certain limits) according to the power
to be used. It is unnecessary to add that the position occupied by the vacuum-
generating tubes may be varied at will. They may be placed parallel on both
sides of the engine, or on one side only; they may be placed perpendicularly
to the shaft of the engine on one or both sides, or otherwise. The tubes
A may be cast in a piece with the cylinder E and the frame X. The valves
C, C, C, L, L, &c. may vary indefinitely both in form and material. The
slides for distributing the water in the cylinder may also vary both in form;
material, and position; they may be placed horizontally, vertically, or inclined.
The slides of the tubes may be replaced by taps or valves, if desired; the same
with the slides, or the surfaces on which they run may be furnished with
bronze, brass, or gun-metal plates, or others little liable to oxidation. The
means of moving the slides, whether of the tubes or of the cylinders, may be
imparted without any lever directly on the rods of the slides by means of
double cams or by other suitable mechanical means.
The explanations which I have given of the different organs and working of
my apparatus or power generator shew that it may be profitably applied to work
all forms and kinds of steam engines whether fixed or movable, horizontal,
inclined, vertical, rotary, locomotive, or marine, it being only necessary to
alter the diameters of the cylinder, and the form or section of the passages for
the inlet and outlet of the water. This apparatus or generator may be
applied to exbaust and to raise water, to make use of it for irrigation, or to
direct it on to water wheels, turbines, and others, for which it would only be
necessary to lengthen the tube A to extend above the level of the water to be
raised. If it be desired to raise the water to any height by suction only, it is
necessary to superpose a series of tubes from 6 to 7 yards according to the
vacuum produced, fixing the tubes on frames or walls, which tubes would work
by ordinary means of transmission as a series of suction pumps. These pumps
may also be made to work automatically by the following means (see
Figures 4, 4, and 4ter). At some point a valve b; which may be replaced
by a piston e, Figure 4bis, is fitted to them. This valve or piston may be

page_text: placed at any point in the suction tube, and is intended to put in motion the
air and gas pumps F, F1, F2, F, the inlet and inflaming slides G and D, and
that, O, for the escape of the residual gases. These different operations occur
as follows: At the moment of the production of the vacuum in the tube or
pump serving to raise water in the same manner that it is produced in the
generating tube for the engine. As the water to be raised is only from 6 to
7 yards, all the vacuum produced above 6 to 7 yards may be used to raise
the valve b, Figure 4, charged with a weight or the piston e', and therefore
they will raise the lever 1 attached to the rack 2, which rack is charged with
a movable weight X. This lever 1 turns round a point 4, in rising it lifts
up the rack 2, which rubs against the ratchet wheel 5 by means of the
spring 3. This ratchet cannot turn back, being stopped by the tappet 6.
But when the valve 6 has passed beyond the point g', Figure 4, or the
pistone, Figure 4bis, has passed the point g', g, free passage is left to the
water which fills the vacuum existing in the tube a, and when this vacuum
has been in part filled, the piston e¹, or the valve b, acting by means of the
rod d on the lever 1 and the rack 2, in descending causes by means of the
spring 8 the ratchet wheel 5 to turn; this wheel is mounted on the shaft
which gives motion to the air and gas pumps, and to the distributing slides
from the pump to the tube. The descending movement of the piston e³, or of
the valve 6, is easily explained in this manner, that the escape slide opening
first, immediately leaves on the valve b, or on the piston 6', a pressure of
water which causes it to descend with a rapidity depending on the greater or
lesser accuracy in the fit of the piston in the cylinder, or of the valve on its
exterior floating part. For if the piston or the valve closed completely and
hermetically, the liquid or water not being compressible, the stop-valve e
would prevent the piston or the valve descending. But if a little play is
allowed, or some grooves or other means ensuring the same result are adopted,
the valve or the piston in descending will cause the liquid that they displace
below to rise above them, and at the same time, by means of the toothed
rack and ratchet wheel 5, drive the shaft carrying the different slides, and air
and gas pumps necessary to the good working of the pump or machine for
raising water.
My apparatus or generator does not cause any shock to the different
machines that it works, the power is produced and stored outside the cylinder
exactly as takes place in an ordinary steam engine where the boilers perform
the part of my tubes in which the vacuum is produced.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that my Invention is based

page_text: upon the indirect action of an explosive mixture upon the piston of an engine
by means of an intermediate column of water, which is exhausted by the
vacuum which the explosion produces in the generating tubes; the charac-
teristic features of the Invention are,-
First, the substitution of the indirect action of the exploded mixture for the
direct action which takes place in ordinary gas engines.
Second, the indirect action of the explosive power upon the piston rod
through an intermediate column of water, on the surface of which the mixture
of air and gas is exploded.
Third, the inflaming of the mixture of air and gas in a tube of the receiver
separated from the engine cylinder, the vacuum produced in a space separated
from the cylinder determines the to-and-fro movement of the piston.
Fourth, the constant circulation of the same water in the machine.
And, fifth, the presence of water in every part of the machine for the better
utilization of the vacuum.
I claim, the improved machinery for obtaining and applying motive power,
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, and the
application thereof to all motive-power engines to the raising of liquids, to
hydraulic wheels, irrigation, and otherwise.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Hugon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of August, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-three.
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD, j'.,
Civil Engineer,
No. 23, Boulevart de Strasbourg,
à Paris.
P. HUGON. (L.S.)