A NEW MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1827

page_text: CONGREVE'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Sir WILLIAM
CONGREVE, of Cecil Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, 'Baronet, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Eighth day of February, One thousand eight hun-
dred and twenty-seven, in the eighth year of His reign, did, for Himself,
His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Sir William
Congreve, His especial licence that I, the said Sir William Congreve, my
exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Sir William Con-
greve, my exors, adñiors, 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, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in His said
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "A NEW MOTIVE
POWER;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the
said Sir William Congreve, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to
be inrolled in His 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 appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the said
Sir William Congreve, do hereby declare that the nature-of-my-said-Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularized,
described, and ascertained in and by the Drawing hereunto annexed, and the
following description thereof (that is to say):-
:-
Let A, B, C, Fig. 1, be three horizontal rollers fixed in a frame; a, a, a, &c.
is an endless band of sponge running round these rollers; and b, b, b, &c. is an
endless chain of weights surrounding the band of sponge, and attached to it so
that they must move together, every part of this band and chain being so
accurately uniform in weight that the perpendicular side A, B, will in all posi-
tions of the band and chain be in equilibrium with the hypothenuse A, C, on
the principle of the inclined plane. Now if the frame in which these rollers
are fixed be placed in a cistern of water having its lower part immersed
therein, so that the water's edge cuts the upper part of the rollers B, C, then,
if the weight and quantity of the endless chain be duly proportioned to the
thickness and breadth of the band of sponge, the band and chain will, on the
water in the cistern being brought to the proper level, begin to move round
the rollers in the direction A, B, by the force of cappillary attraction, and will
continue so to move. The process is as follows:-On the side A, B, of the
triangle the weights b, b, b, &c. hanging perpendicularly alongside the band of
sponge, the band is not compressed by them, and its pores being left open,
the water at the point x, at which the band meets its surface, will rise to a
certain height y, above its level, and thereby create a load, which load will not
exist on the ascending side C, A, because on this side the chain of weights
compresses the band at the water's edge, and squeezes out any water that may
have previously accumulated in it, so that the band rises in a dry state, the
weight of the chain having been so proportioned to the breadth and thickness
of the band as to be sufficient to produce this effect. The load, therefore, on
the descending side A, B, not being opposed by any similar load on the ascend-
ing side, and the equilibrium of the other parts not being disturbed by the
alternate expansion and compression of the sponge, the band will begin to
move in the direction A, B, and as it moves downwards the accumulation of
water will continue to rise, and thereby carry on a constant motion, provided
the load at x, y, be sufficient to overcome the friction on the rollers A, B, C.
Now, to ascertain the quantity of this load in any particular machine, it
must be stated that it is found by experiment that the water will rise in a fine
sponge about an inch above its level. If, therefore, the band and sponge be
one foot thick and six feet broad, the area of its horizontal section in contact
with the water would be 864 square inches, and the weight of the accumula-

page_text: tion of water raised by the capillary attraction being one inch rise upon 864
square inches would be 30 pounds, which, it is conceived, would be much more
than equivalent to the friction of the rollers. There are a variety of ways
in which this principle may be applied. I shall now, therefore, in the second
place, proceed to shew its application upon one centre instead of three.
Fig. 2, a, b, c, d, represents a drum, wheel, or cylinder moving on a horizontal
axis surrounded with a band of sponge 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and immersed in
water, so that the surface of the water touches the lower end of the cylinder.
Now, then, if, as in Fig. 1, the water on the descending side b be allowed to
accumulate in the sponge at y, while on the ascending side d the sponge at the
water's edge shall by any means, not deranging the equilibrium, be so com-
pressed that it shall quit the water in a dry state, the accumulation of water
above its level at y, by the capillary attraction, will be a source of constant
rotatory motion; and in the present case it will be found that the means of
compressing the sponge may be best obtained by buoyancy, instead of weight;
for this purpose, therefore, the band of sponge is supposed to be divided into
eight or more equal parts 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., each part being furnished with a float
or buoyant vessel f¹, f³, &c., rising and falling upon spindles 8, 8, 8, &c. fixed
in the periphery of the drum, these floats being of such dimensions that when
immersed in water the buoyancy or pressure upwards of each shall be suffi-
cient to compress that portion of the sponge connected with it so as to squeeze
out any water it may have absorbed. These floats are further arranged by
means of levers 1, 1, 1, &c. and plates p, p, p, &c., so that when the float f,
No. 1, becomes immersed in the water, its buoyant pressure upwards acts not
against the portion of the sponge No. 1 immediately above it, but against
No. 2 next in front of it; and so in like manner the buoyant of No. 2
float acts on the portion of sponge No. 3, and f, No. 3 float upon No. 4
sponge. Now, from this arrangement it follows that the portion of
sponge No. 4, which is about to quit the water, is pressed upon by that
float which, from acting vertically, is most efficient in sqeezing the sponge
dry, while that portion of the sponge No. 1, on the point of entering
the water is not compressed at all, from its corresponding float No. 8 not
having yet reached the edge of the water. By these means, therefore, it will
be seen that the sponge always rises in a dry state from the water on the
ascending side, while it approaches the water on the descending side in an
uncompressed state, and open to the full action of absorption by the capillary
attraction. The great advantage of effecting this by the buoyancy of light
vessels instead of by a burthen of weights, as in Fig. 1, is, that by a due
arrangement of the dimensions and buoyancy of the floats immersed, the whole

page_text: machine may be made to float on the surface of the water, so as to take of
all friction whatever from the centre of suspension: Thus, therefore, we have
a cylindrical machine revolving on a single 'centre without friction and shaving
a collection of water in the sponge on the descending side, while the sponge on
the ascending side is continually dry; and if this cylinder be-six feet wide,
and the sponge that surrounds it one foot thick, there will a constant moving
power of thirty pounds on the descending-side without any friction-to
counteract it. It has been already stated that to perpetuate the motion of
this machine, the means used to leave the sponge open on the descending side,
and press it dry on the ascending side, must be such as will not derange the
equilibrum of the machine when floating in water. As, therefore;. in this case
the effect is produced by the ascent of the buoyant floats, to demonstrate the
perpetuity of the motion it must be shewn that the ascent of the floats if,
No. 1, and f, No. 3, will be equal in all corresponding situations on each side
of the perpendicular; for the only circumstance that could derange the equili
brium on this system would be that f, No: 1, and f, No. 3, should not in all such
corresponding situations approach the centre of motion equally, for it is evident
that in the position of the floats described in the above-Figure, ifif, No. 1, float
did not approach the centre as much as f, No. 3, the equilibrium would be
destroyed, and the greater distance of f, No. 1; from the centre than that of
f, No. 3, would create a resistance to the moving force, caused by the accumu-
lation of the water at y. It will be found, however, that the floats fNo 1,
and f, No. 3, do retain equal distances from the centre in all corresponding
situations, for the resistance to their approach to the centre by buoyancy is
the elasticity of the sponge at the extremity of the respective levers, and as
this elasticity is the same in all situations, while this centripetal force of the
float f, No. 1, is equal to that of the float f; No: 3, at equal distances from
the perpendicular, the floats f, No. 1, and f, No. 3, will in all corresponding situa-
tions on either side of the perpendicular be at equal distances from the centre.
It is true that the force by which these floats approach the centre of motion
varies according to the obliquity of the spindles on which they work, it being
greatest in the perpendicular position; but as the obliquity of these spindles is
the same at all equal distances from the perpendicular, and as the resistance
to the ascent of the floats is equal in all cases, the centre of buoyancy will
evidently describe a similar curve on each side of the perpendicular, and con-
sequently the equilibrium will be preserved, so as to leave a 'constant moving
force at y equal to the whole accumulation of water in the sponge; nor will
this equilibrium be disturbed by any change of position in the floats not
immersed in the water, since, being duly connected with the sponge by the

page_text: levers and plates, they will evidently arrange themselves at equal distances from
the centro in all corresponding situations on either side. It may be said that
the equilibrium of the band of sponge may be destroyed by .its partial com-
pression; and it must be admitted that. the centre of gravity of the part
compressed, according to, the construction above described; does approach the
centre of motion nearer than the centre of gravity of the part not compressed.
The whole weight of the sponge is; however, 'so inconsiderable that this differ-
ence would scarcely produce any sensible effect, and if it did, a very slight
alteration in the construction, by which the sponge would be compressed as
much outwards and inwards, would retain the centre of gravity of the com-
pressed part at the same distance from the centre of motion as the centre of
gravity of the part not compressed. The power of a wheel thus set in motion
may either be applied in the commoni mode: by machinery at the end of the
axis; or the wheel itself, as in Fig. 3; may be made to revolve in a circular
cistern of water of any convenient diameter, being connected by an arm from
the centre of the wheel to an upright revolving shaft. in the centre of the
cistern, so as to be connected with machinery, and produce a similar effect to
that obtained by a horse mill. It is evident that a constant accumulation of
weight on one side of such a wheel as here 'described, and not the other, would
cause it to roll forward spontaneously in a circular path thus marked out for
it; and as this progressive motion must necessarily occasion a considerable
-undulation in the water contained in the cistern; this undulation will raise the
water in front of the wheel some inches above the level of the accumulation
caused by the mere capillary attraction. If, therefore, this rise of the waves
thus created be four inches above the water's level, the accumulation of water
in the sponge on the descending side, including the one inch gained by the
capillary attraction, would be five inches in height, and by this means the
motive power of a wheel, the original power of which would be 30 pounds, as
calculated above, would thus be raised to 150 pounds, which might probably
be still further augmented by some mechanical means placed in front of the
wheel to increase the agitation of the water. Thus, if a ripple so created rose
about nine inches; including the capellary ascent, and were repeated every
second, the periphery of the wheel would move through a space of nine inches
in that period, and revolve at the rate of forty-five feet per minute, with a con-
stant descending weight of rather more than one hundred and eighty pounds,
which would make the power of such a wheel rather above the power of one
man; and if five such wheels were combined so as to work round one centre,
their united force would be equal to that of a one-horse power steam engine.
'This mode of increasing the power of the revolving wheel, Fig. 8, by exciting

page_text: an undulation in the water in which the wheel floats, leads to an application of
a similar principle_by_which the force_of_the_waves_of_the_sea_may_be_applied,
with great effect, as a moving power to ships and boats, which I shall therefore
explain. Fig. 4 represents the bow of a boat having a wheel of suitable dimen-
sions fixed in front of its stem by a strong framework. This wheel is a hollow
cylinder closed at the ends but open all round, with its interior divided into
compartments similar to the Persian wheel, and so disposed that on a wave rising
to any height on the periphery of this circle, all that part of the wave which
enters the interior of the wheel or cylinder shall be retained in the fore part thereof,
while any part of this water which shall find its way into the after part of the wheel
shall not be retained, but flow out again immediately, so that in case of a wave
rising to the full height of the wheel, the whole of the front half of the cylinder
shall be fully charged with water, while there would be no counterbalancing
quantity in the after part. The consequence of this therefore would be that a con-
stant revolving force would be kept up by a succession of waves, this force being
proportion to the breadth and diameter of the wheel, and to the height of the
wave. Thus, if a wheel be six feet in diameter, and six feet broad, and the
perpendicular rise of the waves be also six feet, the maximum charge or moving
power of such a wheel would be about one and a half ton, being the weight of
the water contained in the front half of the wheel, and this, supposing the ship
to be in motion, would probably be renewed by succeeding waves about twenty
times
per minute. On an average, however, the perpendicular rise of a wave
at sea, in lakes, or large rivers, could not perhaps be taken at more than from
four to five feet, but this would be somewhat increased by the pitching of the
vessel, the revolving power therefore of such a wheel might on an average be
estimated at one ton, acting by repeated impulse, similar to that of a common
oar or paddle; and supposing the least wave that could be reckoned upon to be
from one to two feet in height, so the least probable power in calm weather
might be taken at five hundred weight. The velocity with which the charge of
water will descend in these different cases would of course vary. Thus, in the
first instance, where the wheel has its full charge, the centre of gravity of this
water will be found rather above the horizontal radius, so that every charge
would fall through a space of about five feet before it would discharge itself,
and supposing therefore the succession of waves were about twenty in a minute,
the moving force of this wheel might be taken at one and a half ton × five
feet x twenty, that is to say, one and a half ton moving through one hundred
fect in one minute, which will be found to be about equal to the power of a ten-
horse steam engine. In the second case, allowing for a proportionate falling
off in the succession of waves and in the velocity of the descent of the water,

page_text: the power exerted may be considered as equivalent to the power of a six-horse
engine, and in the latter case to that of a two-horse power. A similar wheel
also might be placed at the stern of the vessel with equal effect, and two or
three such wheels might be applied without inconvenience on either side, being
mere expernal appendages, by which means the first power of an enor-
mous propelling force might be attached to a vessel without any internal
apparatus, labor, or fuel whatever. In larger vessels it is evident that a wheel
of ten or twelve feet in diameter may be used instead of six feet, by which a
proportionate increase of power would be gained. Thus the maximum power
of a wheel twelve feet in diameter and six feet wide, would be equal to that
of an eighty-horse power engine, supposing it to be charged by a repetition of
waves at twenty feet per minute, and supposing the centre of gravity of each
successive charge to pass through a space of ten feet before it emptied itself.
Two such wheels, therefore, would propel a very large vessel without the
slightest loss of stowage or expense beyond the first cost. Whenever moderate
velocities only are required, the propelling power may be obtained direct from
these wheels by furnishing them with paddles similar to the propelling wheels
of a steam boat; but were greater velocities are required, these cylinders should
not themselves be furnished with paddles, but should be used merely to drive
propelling wheels connected with them by machinery, so as to move at double or
treble the rate of these first movers themselves. It may be objected to this mode
of propelling vessels, that the necessary undulation on the surface of rivers and
seas is not always to be found. To this objection, however, it may be most con-
clusively answered, that in this respect the system of propelling by the rise and fall
of waves is even more general in its application than the present system of pro-
pelling ships by the wind, for whenever there. is wind there must be waves; and
considerable waves are frequently to be met with even in a dead calm, which is
so far a gain in favor of this new system. But there is a still more important
circumstance in favor of the new system, which is, that in the latter case the force
is alike applicable to all points of the compass, whereas the power of sails can
only be applied in about twenty points out of thirty-two, in which respect it
obtains all the superiority of steam navigation, without its expence or inconve-
nience. To this also may be added, it is much less liable to accident and danger
from bad weather than the system of navigation by sails.
We shall now return to the subject of producing motive power by capillary
attraction. Hitherto we have supposed the capillary attraction to be produced.
alone from the application of water, but there are many materials to be found
by which the effect of this attraction may be obtained to a greater extent, and
particularly as to the perpendicular elevation of the water above its level. Thus

page_text: the common experiment with glass, plates, gives a perpendicular ascent of six
inches. Now the application of this system of attraction by the means of glass
plates is so obvious as not to need a diagram for its explanation. A series of
glass plates might, be arranged to act either upon three centres or upon one,
which will collapse, and thereby approach each other on the one side, and again
opens and recede from each other on the other side. In this caser the
water may either be absorbed on the collapsing side by limiting the approaching
of the plates, to the due capillary distance; as already described, and discharged
again by separating them on the opposite side, or vice versâ ; it may be absorbed
on the opening side by limiting the separation of the plates to the due capillary
'distance, and squeezed out jagain on the collapsing side, by allowing them to
approach into actual: contact; and it must here be observed that the operation
of admitting the water on the one side, and: getting rid of it on the other, is
entirely performed by the opening and collapsing of the materials by their own
weight, so as to fall precisely within the demonstration illustrated by Fig. 3,
while the power of thus alternating the accumulation or rejection of the fluid,
either by the collapsing or opening of the plates, is a still further proof of the
inherent power of motion contained in this principle, since, if any loss of
power were to attach to the collapsing of the materials on the ascending side,
as. has been pretended, that loss would be immediately converted into a gain,
by making.the collapsing of the plates absorb the fluid, and thus change the
ascending into the descending side. But the powers of this machine may be
still further augmented as follows:-By substituting metallic for glass plates,
mercury may be applied as the fluid instead of water, and it is known that it
will rise between such plates, if properly amalgamated, to a much greater
height than water will rise. in the sponge... By the latter.mode, therefore
supposing the ascent of the mercury be taken at six inches in a cylindrical
wheel of the same dimensions as that supposed in Fig. 2, in which a zone of
thin metallic plates is. substituted for the band of sponge, the height of the
ascent of the fluid would be increased as six to one, while its specific gravity
would be.increased as twelve to one, making the whole difference of power in
the two cases as seventy-two to one, so that the load of such a wheel, which
with the sponge would be only thirty pounds, would, by the substitution of these
materials, be increased to two thousand one hundred and sixty pounds; and
supposing the plates be so arranged that the perpendicular ascent of the
mercury be at the rate of six inches per second, such a wheel would revolve at
the rate of thirty feet per minute, with a load of two thousand one hundred
and sixty pounds, which would make its power nearly equal to that of a two-
horse. power steam engine. It is true that copper or tin plates would corrode

page_text: rapidly if applied to this purpose; a valuable discovery, however, has lately
been made, by which it appears that platina plates may be amalgated by using
mercury at a boiling temperature. This amalgamation never decays, neither
is the platina metal at all injured by the process. It is needless to say that by
the application of this active principle oscillatory movements may be accom-
plished as well as rotatory ones, in an infinite variety of modifications.
I claim the principle of capillary attraction, in whatsoever mode employed for
the production of motive power, either simply or in conjunction with any other
power or principle, to the working of any machinery, whether on one or more
centres, or whether it be a rotatory or reciprocating action, or whether the fluid
used be water, spirit, or any other such fluid combined with sponge or glass
plates, or with any other material, or whether it be murcury or melted lead,
or other metal or alloy, with metallic plates, tubes or fibres, and of producing
motive power by charging the descending side of a wheel or balance or other
machinery with a preponderating fluid, by the undulation of any waves, however
created, either combined with capillary attraction or without it, the same being
secured to me by the Patent whereof this is my Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sir William Congreve, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven.