Improvements in Buoyancy Motors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buoyancy Motors.
We, PAUL KERSTEN and LOUIS KERSTEN, Manufacturers, of Koesen, in the
Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to buoyancy motors, the distinguishing feature of which
is that with the assistance of a bucket chain wheel or drum with vanes mounted
in a reservoir filled with a liquid, and the employment of a current of steam or
similar form of pressure, air or any other gas is driven into the compartments
or spaces formed on the wheel and a serviceable and adaptable mechanical power
created by the force of impulsion thereby brought into action.
The arrangement of the apparatus will be understood from the following descrip-
tion and accompanying drawing in which:-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of one form of motive power apparatus constructed
according to this invention.
Fig. 2 a sectional plan on the line M M of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 a sectional elevation at right angles to Fig. 1 showing a slightly modified
arrangement of bearings.
Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of a nozzle-pipe apparatus, Fig. 5 being a section
on the line N N Fig. 4.
Fig. is a sectional elevation of a modified arrangement of motive power
apparatus.
Fig. 7 a sectional plan of the reservoir built into a chimney shaft.
Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional elevations of a further modified form of motive power
apparatus.
Fig. 10 is a cross section of a motive power apparatus mounted on a hollow
axle through which the impulsion gases are introduced.
Fig. 11 is a partial longitudinal section of Fig. 10.
Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate a different form of the impulsion gas supply arrange-
ment in cross-section, and longitudinal section, respectively.
Fig. 14 is a partial longitudinal section of a motive power apparatus, the
buckets belonging to which are furnished with overflow channels.
The wheel or drum A is mounted in a reservoir E filled with any suitable liquid,
preferably water, and, as far as possible, in such a manner as to float in the
liquid, so that the bearing pressure of the wheel axle is considerably reduced.
The wheel or drum A is furnished with suitable vanes Z, which are shrouded
by the discs B, and counter-vanes F, which remain stationary can be arranged in
the interior of the reservoir, see Figs. 1, 2 and 6.
The impulsion gases can be introduced into the vanes from the outside or from
the inside as shown respectively in Figs. 1, 3, 6, 8 and 9, and in Fig. 10 to 14
by way of example.
!
In the forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9. that is to
say in those forms in which the impulsion gases are introduced from the outside,
a nozzle apparatus a which is made adjustable and moveable in different ways,

page_text: is arranged below the vanes, at the lowest or nearly the lowest point of the wheel.
By means of this apparatus, and with the assistance of pressure in some form
(usually a current of steam) conveyed through the pipe R₁, air or any other gas
is drawn up through a very wide pipe R and compressed in the spaces between
the vanes.
In order that the air of impulsion may pass easily from one vane division to
another at the commencement of the action that is to say, upon the starting of
the apparatus, for the purpose of filling the vane divisions Z a number of small
holes or also overflow channels are formed in the vanes, as shown in Figs. 1
and 2, and 14, which, however, are of no importance during the working and
exercise no effect whatever.
If the requirements as regards working capacity of the apparatus are considerable
it is advisable not to effect the filling of the vanes from the outer periphery of
the wheel, that is from outside, as thereby the filling of the vanes Z is incom-
plete and thus only a small working capacity can be ensured, but rather to fill
the vanes from inside, as illustrated in Figs. 10 to 14 and described, in the
following matter.
The shaft D of the vane wheel is made hollow; and, in the middle of the same,
that is to say, within the range of the floating cylinder C a number of openings o
corresponding with the vane divisions Z and running out radially are arranged.
These run into similar recesses in the hub d, see Figs. 10 and 11.
From the hub d pipes g run to the vane divisions Z; and in the interior of the
shaft 1) is an inserted piece k, which is connected with the steam supply pipe R₁
inserted in the extension of the supply pipe g in such a manner that it can take
no part in the rotary motion of the vane wheel, see Figs. 10 and 11.
The inserted piece k fits into the bore of shaft D so that thereby the passage to
the vanes is shut off and for the passage of the impulsion gases to the wheel
divisions or vanes an admission opening is formed at a suitable spot in k, which-
can be so regulated that only one vane, or, as shown in Fig. 11 several of the same
may be simultaneously supplied with impulsion gases.
The steam supply pipe R in like manner to the forms illustrated in Figs. 1, 2,
3, 6, 8, and 9 is surrounded by a wide pipe which sits closely to the bore of the
shaft D.
A similar manner of supplying the impulsion gases is shown in Figs. 12 and 13,
but, in this case, the supply pipe g is connected with the hub disc m, the outside
of which lies firmly and closely against the disc n which engages through the
side wall of the tank E, so that thereby the passages to the pipe are shut off.
The disc which may be arranged specially or be produced in one piece with the
bearing, is furnished at a suitable spot with an opening, with which the pipes R R¹
are connected, and through which the impulsion gases reach the pipes 9 and the
vanes Z.
In the form last mentioned, by a suitable formation of the inlet opening of the
disc n it is contrived that one only or several vanes at the same time may be
supplied with impulsion gases.
1
The form, fitting up and arrangement of the motive power apparatus may be
varied according to the conditions and the object in view, several such arrange-
ments being shown, by way of example, in the drawings.
The reservoir E in which the wheel or drum A is mounted, may be laved, or
played upon, by the gases given off from a furnace, see Fig. 7, in order, for
example, that the water in the reservoir E may be heated and in this state be
fed again into the steam boiler.
The heated water in the reservoir E increases the impulsive effect of the air
drawn through the nozzle apparatus, as such air undergoes a further expansion.
The arrangement of the motive power apparatus may be in the form of a paddle
wheel (see Figs. 1 and 8) or as a bucket chain wheel (see Fig. 9) or as several
wheels A A lying one above the other (see Fig. 6).
The apparatus may also be employed for drawing off air from various spaces

page_text: or chambers, the air used in working being taken from the different spaces or
chambers by means of suitable suction pipes y (see Fig. 8) and carried through
the apparatus into the open air.
The apparatus may further be applied to the most varied purposes. It differs
from the steam engine, by the absence of any distributing and other movable
parts in consequence of which it is not only considerably more effective than
steam engines hitherto introduced, but also requires no special attention, as only
the two lightened bearings come into consideration.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. An improved motive power apparatus embodying one or more vane wheels
mounted in a reservoir filled with liquid the spaces between the vanes Z being
filled with sucked up air or other gases by means of a nozzle pipe apparatus a
and a suction pressure current, so that an impulsive action is created in the liquid
reservoir, whereby the wheel is caused to rotate.
2. In motive power apparatus in which a wheel is mounted to rotate in a
reservoir filled with liquid, the arrangement whereby gases from a furnace pass
entirely or partially over the outside of the reservoir substantially as described.
3. The construction or arrangement of motive power apparatus as described as
a bucket-chain-wheel apparatus (Fig. 9) or vane-wheel apparatus (Fig. 8) or
as an apparatus with several wheels placed one above the other (Fig. 6).
4. In motive power apparatus in which a wheel is rotated in a reservoir as
described by air or gas drawn through a suction pipe, the arrangement whereby
the suction pipe R is connected with other special suction pipes g for the purpose
of drawing off air from different spaces or chambers.
5. In motive power apparatus as described the arrangement in the apparatus
whereby the impulsion gases are conveyed from within outwards into the vanes
or divisions 7 by means of supply pipes g arranged in the floating cylinder and
connected with the several divisions or vanes.
6. In motive power apparatus as described the arrangement of the overflow
channels for the purpose of carrying the impulsion gases from one vane or
division to another and preventing the ineffectual rising of the impulsion gases
outside of the divisions or vanes.
Dutod thie 0th day of May 1800
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.