IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINE DENOMINATED BELLIER HYDRAULIQUE OR HYDRAULIC RAM
Year: 1816

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
FRANCOIS MONTGOLFIER, of Leicester Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by partition, humbly represent to His present Majesty
King George the Third, that I had invented "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINE
DENOMINATED BELLIER HYDRAULIQUE OR HYDRAULIC RAM," His Majesty was
pleased to issue His Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Fourteenth day of March, in the fifty-sixth
year of His reign, which Letters Patent do give and grant unto me, the said
Pierre Francois Montgolfier, and to my exors, adññiors, and assigns, or to my
and their servants or agents, His said Majesty's special licence to make, use,
exercise, and vend my said Invention, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in the Colonies and Plantations abroad,
to have and enjoy the whole profit and advantage arising by reason of the said
Invention during the term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters
Patent, by which His Majesty also requires and strictly commands all his
subjects whatever, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon
Tweed, that during the continuance of the said term of fourteen years they
shall not, either directly or indirectly, make, use, or put in practice my said
Invention, or any part of it, or in anywise counterfeit, imitate, or resemble the
same. The said Letters Patent also contains a proviso obliging me, the said
Pierre Francois Montgolfier, to particularly describe and ascertain the nature

page_text: of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Pierre Francois Montgolfier, do hereby describe and ascertain my said
Invention.
The hydraulic ram is a machine which is put in action by the motion or
current of water occasioned by a small fall or descent, and it operates to rise
up a proportionable smaller quantity of water to any required height. As this
machine is founded upon a principle in hydraulics not very generally known or
practiced, I shall describe Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, which
is a section of the complete machine, constructed according to my improve-
ments; but I wish to be understood that I do not make claim to the Invention
of every thing contained in the said Drawing, Figure 1; but it is necessary to
describe the whole machine to explain the application and operation of my
improvements which are contained therein, and will be particularly ascertained
hereafter. The large pipe A, B, is called the body of the ram.
The end A
is carried through the wall or bank of the reservoir, river, or other supply of
water; the other extremity R of the pipe has an opening H, H, capable of
being closed by valves C or D; but when the said valves are open the water of
the reservoir will run through the pipe A, B, and issue freely through the
valves C, D, with a velocity proportioned to the height of the water in the
reservoir above the orifice H, H, of the valve, through which the water makes
its escape, or rather above the level of the standing water in which the whole
machine is immersed up to the level of the dotted line X, so that it just covers
the valve D. The end A of the pipe which receives the water of the reservoir
is formed like a trumpet mouth, that the water may flow more readily into the
pipe; and the length of the pipe A, B, must be regulated according to the
height of the fall of the water which is to produce the current through the
pipe. The pipe is composed of several pieces or lengths screwed together by
flaunches or other similar means; but it is in the end piece B, R, which I call
the head of the ram, that the moving parts of the machine are placed. The
extremity of the pipe or head of the ram terminates with a portion of a
sphere R, in the upper surface of which is a large circular opening, to receive
and hold a seat of H, H, the valves C, D, at which the water issues; but when
the internal valve C is closed, as in the Figure, it prevents the water from
issuing. When the valve C opens, it descends into the position of the dotted
line G, and leaves a free passage. Its motion is guided between 3 or 4 stems g,

page_text: which have hooks formed, the lower ends to retain or support the valve when
opened, and these stems are fixed by screws, so that they can be regulated to
allow the valve to open a greater or less passage for the water. The valve C is
made of metal and hollow, for it has a hollow cup or dish of metal attached to
its lower surface. This at the same time renders the valve light in the water,
and gives it a convex surface, which when it is open, as shewn by the dotted
lines, corresponds with the interior concave surface of the spherical end R of
the head of the ram. The seat of the valve, which is marked H, is composed of
a short cylinder or pipe, of which the opening is much greater than the trans-
verse section of the pipe A, B. This short cylinder is screwed by its flauncheh, h,
into the opening of the upper surface of the head R of the ram. The said
valve seat H, H, is so formed as to have an invested cup around the upper
part of the short cylinder; that is, a circular channel or annular space i, i, which
will contain air, and from which the air cannot escape when the water com-
presses it. k, l, is a small pipe leading from the said annular space to the open
air; it is furnished with two small valves; one at k, opening inwards to admit
the air to enter into the space, but to prevent its return; and the office of the
other at is to admit a certain quantity of air, and then to shut and prevent
any further entrance. D is a valve similar to C, but shutting down on the
outside of the seat H, H. Its use will be hereafter explained. The upper part
of the head of the ram at E is made flat, and has several narrow openings
across it, which are covered by valves F, to allow water to pass out from
the pipe A, B, but to prevent its return; and on each side of the head of
the ram, at the part opposite to the valves E, is a hollow enlargement, as is
shewn by the dotted lines in K, Figure 1, to form a circular bason, through the
centre of which the pipe A, R, of the ram passes, as is shewn by the trans-
verse section in Figure 2; but the pipe, instead of being circular, is flat at top
at that part to form the seats for the valves E. This bason is covered by an air
vessel screwed down by means of a flaunch round the edge thereof. All the
water which issues from the pipe through the valves E will flow off on each
side, and be received in the bason K. There is a passage L, communicating
from one of the enlargements to the other, for which purpose it carves down
and. descends beneath the pipe of the ram; and the pipe M, Figure 2, that
carries away the water which the machine raises, must proceed either from this
passage or from some other part of the bason K, so as to receive the water
which has passed from the body of the ram through the valves E and the air
vessel into the bason K, K. The action of the hydraulic ram is as follows:-
Suppose the pipe full of water, if the valve C is opened the water from the
reservoir will flow through the pipe A, B, and issue through the opening H; it

page_text: will lift up the valve D, and escape; but the current having continued till the
water has acquired a certain velocity, the force of the current buoys up the
valve C, and closes the passage. The motion of the water contained in the
pipe A, B, will thus be suddenly arrested, and by its vis-inertia or moving
force it will exert a sudden pressure against the valve C, and against all the
interior parts of the pipe. The small quantity of air contained in the space i, i,
compresses into a smaller space, and by its elasticity takes off the violence
of the shock or blow which would otherwise be produced. This pressure
opens the valves E, and a portion of the water will be driven into the air
vessell F, which is supposed to be full of air, compressed or condensed till
its elasticity equals the pressure of the column of water which is to be
raised up the pipe M by the action of the machine. The water which is
forced into the air vessel causes the air therein to be condensed to a
greater degree of elasticity, and it will exceed the pressure of the column of
the water in the pipe M by degrees; the air will therefore force through the
said pipe M all the water which was injected through the valves E, and
cause that quantity of water to issue from the upper extremities of that
pipe. The moving force or vis inertia of the mass of water which was in
motion in the pipe A, B, having expended itself by forcing a portion of water
into the air vessel, and making a still greater compression of the contained air,
a recoil of the water in the tube will take place, with a slight motion from B
to A. This arrises from the reaction or elasticity of the air contained in the space
i, i, and also of the metal of which the tube is composed. The valves E shut,
and prevent the return of the water which has been forced into the air vessel.
This recoil of the water in the pipe towards A causes a slight asperation within
the head of the ram, and the valve D having descended by its weight prevents
the water X, with which it is covered, from entering through it; but the air
passes through the passage l, k, and opens the valve K, and a small quantity
of air is sucked into the space i, i; but this is a very small quantity, because
the valve K closes as soon as the air flows with a rapid current through the
passage. During the recoil the valve C, having nothing to sustain its weight,
alls, and opens the passage; and as soon as the force of the recoil has expended
itself in acting against the column of water contained in the reservoir at the
end A, the water begins again to flow through the pipe from A, B, and repeats
the action which I have described, viz, it shuts the valve C. When it has
acquired the intended velocity, and being thus stopped, the vis inestia condenses
the air at i, i, and, opening the valves E, forces a quantity of water into the air
vessel, from which the reaction of the contained air will drive it up the pipe M;
the vis enertia of the moving column of water being thus expended, the recoil

page_text: commences by the reaction of the air at i, i, the valves E shut, and the valve
D likewise; the aspiration produced by the recoil draws some air through the
valve k, b, the valve C falls by its weight, and opens the passage, so that the
water in the pipe A, B, can resume its motion when the recoil has exhausted
itself. The small quantity of air which is drawn into the machine through the
air valve l, k, at each aspiration, causes an accumulation of air in the space i, i,
and when the aspiration of recoil takes place a small quantity of air passes from
the space i, i, and proceeds along the pipe till it arrives beneath the valves E, and
lodging in the small space beneath those valves it will be forced into the air vessel
at the next stroke, by which means the air vessell is always kept filled with air.
The machine represented in the Drawing is calculated to raise the water up
the tube M one hundred feet above X, when the fall by which it is worked is five
feet; that is the difference of the levels Y and X of the water in the reservoir and
the lower level X. The length of the pipe A, B, is to be fourteen feet long
from A to B, and six inches diameter. The dimensions of all the other parts
may be found by the scale. Such a machine may be expected to expend about
seventy cubic feet per minute to work it, and to raise up about 2 cubic feet
per minute; but these quantities cannot be exactly stated, because they depend
upon the care and accuracy with which the machine is constructed; under
different circumstances, having a greater or less fall, or quantity of water, the
dimensions of the machine must be calculated accordingly. The hydraulic
ram represented in Figure 1 and 2 is adapted to give motion to the hydro-
static presses which are in common use under the name of Bramal's presses.
For this purpose it is only necessary to apply the pipe M, Figure 2, to the
cylinder of the hydraulic press, and at each stroke of the ram a small quantity
of the water will be forced or injected into the cylinder of the press, and will
thus produce the ascent of the piston of the press, in the same manner as is
now performed by the small injection pump worked by the force of men.
But by the application of my improved hydraulic ram to that purpose the
press can be worked in any situation where there is a small fall of water, and
the ram may be set in motion whenever the press is wanted.
Having now described the construction of the machine and its manner of
action, I shall proceed to ascertain such parts thereof as are my Invention,
and in which the machine just described is different from all hydraulic rams
hitherto constructed.
First, that by constructing the head of the ram in the manner described, with
the upper side of the pipe A, B, flat, and applying the valves E immediately upon
the top thereof, there is a very little space to contain dead water, that is, water
which which will be motionless when the current takes place in the pipe A, B.

page_text: Secondly, in making the bason k, k, on each side of the pipe, as represented
in Figure 2, which bason is on a lower level than the valves E. By this means
the water will flow off' from the valve E on each side; and at the instant when
the machine performs its stroke, and forces water through the said valve into
the air vessel, the valves will not be covered, or at least very slightly covered
with water, as shewn in Figure 2; consequently, when the valves open, and
the water is forced in, it has only the compressed air to oppose it, which from
its elasticity allows the water to enter with more facility than if it was resisted
by a column of water resting upon the valves. Not that there is any less
hydrostatic pressure upon the valves because it is the air which bears upon
them instead of the water, but there is a less mass of matter to be put in
motion by the water which enters into the air vessel; it has only the matter
contained in the valves themselves to put in motion.
Thirdly, in applying the external valve D, the use of which is to prevent
the water X returning into the ram when the recoil takes place; and having
this provision I am enabled to employ a greater quantity of air in the space
i, i, than could otherwise conveniently be done, which renders the shock which
takes place when the valve C is shut less sudden.
Fourthly, I construct the hydraulic ram in the manner represented in
Figure 3, in which the water which gives motion to the machine is kept
distinct and separate from the water which is raised by the machine. The
same letters of reference are employed as in Figure 1, as far as the parts are
the same. The difference consists in the application of the curved pipe
O, P, Q, which forms the communication between the pipe A, B, and the
pipe S, upon which the valves E and the air vessel are placed. This pipe
always contains a quantity of air from 0 to Q, and the tube is carried up to
such a height in its curvature that the oscillations of the two waters O and Q
will not occasion either to pass the summit P and mix with the other. Also
I have added the suction pipe T, which draws up the water which is to
be elevated at the moment when the recoil or aspiration takes place. The
lower end of this pipe is shut by the suction valve t. The action of this improve-
ment is thus-Suppose the valve C and D open, the water will run through
the pipe A, B, till it acquires a certain velocity; it then raises the valve C,
and shuts the passage; the vis inertia of the mass of water which is in move-
ment causes it to rise up at O, and compress the air O, Q, until the
pressure
thereof upon the water Q is sufficient to force a portion through the valve E
into the air vessel; the force being thus expended, the reaction of the air
O, Q, causes the water contained in the pipe A, B, to run back, and as the
valve D shuts, to. prevent the water X from entering; the valve C, having no

page_text: pressure to support it, falls by its own weight. This is the situation repre-
sented in the Figure. The water in the pipe A, B, will continue to run back
by the recoiling force which is thus given to it, until it rarifies the air contained
at O, Q, sufficiently to cause a suction through the tube T and valve t. This causes
as much fresh water to be drawn into the tube Q as was driven into the air
vessel the last time. The recoil having exhausted itself in drawing up the
water, the water at A begins to flow again through the pipe and valve D, until
the velocity is sufficient to lift up the valve C, which shuts and stops the
passage. The vis-inertia of the moving water then compresses the air O, Q,
till it will become sufficiently elastic to force the water into the air vessel F, as
before, and so on. The construction and action of the valve C, D, the
space i, i, for the air, and the air valve l, k, is the same as in Figure 1. By
this improvement a fall of foul or salt water may be made to raise up clear
and fresh water or other fluid. In some cases I employ a straight cylinder
instead of the curved pipe O, P, Q, and fit therein a piston, which will move
freely to communicate the movement, but will not allow the two fluids at O
and Q to mix or come into contact.
A, B, is part of the
C, D, the double valve
The end of the pipe
Fifthly, by another improvement I make the hydraulic ram capable of
blowing or forcing a current of air for blowing a furnace instead of raising
water. This improvement is represented in Figure 4.
pipe and body of the ram, as in the former machines;
for the escape of the water; Hl, the seat of the valve.
beyond this turns up to form the air chamber W, from which the air is driven
out by the water through the valve w and pipe m, when the mass of water in
the pipe A, B, continues its motion after the valve C is shut. But to prevent
the water following, a ball of copper n is applied so as to float upon the water,
and stop the passage beneath w in the same manner as a valve; this is the
situation represented by the Figure; when the vis inertia of the moving water is
nearly exhausted in forcing the air out of the air chamber W through m,
the small quantity of air which is contained in the annular space or chamber
P, p, which is around the passage w, cannot escape, and the water compresses
it into a smaller space, until its moving force is wholly expended; then the
reaction of the air upon the surface of the water contained in the air chamber
causes a recoil, the valve D shuts, and C having no pressure falls down by the
running back of the water in the pipe. The water quits the air chamber
whilst the valve W shuts, to prevent the return of the air which has been
blown out into the furnace, and the valve 7 opens, to admit a fresh supply of
air. When the water has descended nearly to the bottom, and the air
chamber W is almost full of air, the small float s subsides, and by its rod it

page_text: shuts the air valve d, and prevents any further entrance of air. When the
recoil has expended its force in opposing the column of water in the reservoir,
it ceases, and the water begins again to flow through the valve D until
it shuts the valve C. The efflux of the water being thus arrested, the water
continues to advance by its vis inertia, and to flow into the air chamber. W,
and expels the air therefrom through the valve w and air pipe to the furnace.
When the water has risen up in the air chamber W till it reaches the floating
ball it stops the further passage of the air, and the small quantity of air
contained in the annular space p, p, is compressed until it occasions the recoil
of the water in the pipe. The valve w then shuts, and prevents the return of
the air, and the valve opens, to admit fresh air, to refill the air chamber,
as before. It should be observed that the height or length of the chamber W.
is adapted to the fall of water which actuated the machine, so that the water.
when it arrives at the ball n it will have risen nearly to the level of its sourse
in the reservoir. On this account the recoil will readily take place to refill the
air chamber W.
This machine may be made to blow air into an inverted vessel commonly.
called a water regulater, to equalize the current of air, or two machines may
be made to act alternately in the manner of other single acting blowing.
machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Francois Montgolfier, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixteen.