IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER."-A com-
munication from abroad by Jean Marie Chevalier, known as Charles
Chevalier, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th May 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER,"
to be as follows:-
Steel springs contain a power hitherto unrecognised, it being simply
necessary in order to render this power illimitable, or at least very con-
siderable, to make the spring of sufficient dimensions, at same time
carefully selecting the material of which it is composed so as to prevent
fracture and increase its elasticity. The combined effect of a number of
springs possessing greater or less power may also be applied. I propose
to employ spiral steel spring power as a substitute for the elastic force of

page_text: steam, water, air, or other fluids or material force whatsoever, the Inven-
tion consisting in the mode of applying the springs as a motive power.
This improved motor may be applied to various purposes, such as for
moving all kinds of vehicles, as velocipedes, invalid chairs, carriages, and
even locomotives and trucks. I may also adapt this power to the pro-
pulsion of vessels or submarine apparatus, life and other boats of all
kinds. The same means may be employed for the propulsion of aerial
apparatus of all kinds and forms, whether balloon or other shaped. I
also utilize the power of spiral springs for producing motion in all kinds
of mills as a substitute for wind, water, or steam power, also for working
sewing machines, apparatus for raising or lowering weights, or elevating
liquids. It is also applicable for working machine tools, agricultural
machines, and other purposes. One or more springs may be applied at
each part of the machine or vehicle to be set in motion.
One example of the Invention is illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing, in which Figure 1 shows an elevation of a carriage having a
spiral spring applied thereto as a motive power, although it will be
understood that the mode of transmitting motion will vary according to
the nature of the application; Figure 2 is a plan of the vehicle, while
Figures 3 and 4 show a longitudinal and transverse section respectively
of the barrel containing the spiral spring. The same letters apply to
these four Figures.
a, carriage or vehicle on which is mounted the apparatus for pro-
ducing the motive power, or instead of a carriage it might be applied to
a balloon, boat, machine, or other apparatus; b, metal barrel or cylinder
containing 1st, an interior lining c, held in place by metallic ribs d;
2ndly, the spiral spring f of steel or other material which is to act as the
motor. The barrel 6 is provided with a toothed wheel g, which gears
with a pinion keyed to the axis i. On axis i is also keyed a grooved
fly wheel j, which serves to regulate the action of the apparatus, and
communicates motion by means of an endless band k, shown in red
lines, to the pulley 1, and consequently to the axle m of the vehicle.
The vehicle is steered by means of the handle n. When it is required to
move backwards the band k is crossed, as shown by the green lines in
the Drawing. The barrel with its double casing and spiral spring motor
are shown in detail at Figures 3 and 4.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th November 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER," a communication to me
from abroad by Jean Marie Chevalier, known as Charles Chevalier,
of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what- manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):
Coiled steel springs contain a power hitherto unrecognised, it being
simply necessary in order to render this power illimitable or at least
very considerable, to make the spring of sufficient dimensions at same

page_text: time carefully selecting the material of which it is composed so as to
prevent fracture and increase its elasticity. The combined effect of a
number of springs possessing greater or less power may also be applied. I
propose to employ spiral steel spring power as a substitute for the elastic
force of steam, water, air, or other fluids or material force whatsoever,
the Invention consisting in the mode of applying the springs as a motive
power.
This improved moter may be applied to various
such as for
purposes,
moving all kinds of vehicles, as velocipedes, invalid chairs, carriages, and
even locomotives and trucks. I may also adapt this power to the pro-
pulsion of vessels or submarine apparatus, life and other boats of all kinds.
The same means may be employed for the propulsion of aerial apparatus
of all kinds and forms, whether balloon or other shaped. I also utilize
the power of spiral springs for producing motion in all kinds of mills as
a substitute for wind, water, or steam power, also for working sewing
machines, apparatus for raising or lowering weights, or elevating liquids.
It is also applicable for working machine tools, agricultural machines,
and other purposes. One or more springs may be applied at each part of
the machine or vehicle to be set in motion. I will here only describe one
arrangement which will serve as an example. A spiral spring of suitable
dimensions is enclosed in a barrel either toothed or not as desired, which
is placed in gear with toothed wheels or the motion may be transmitted
direct by means of bands, endless chains, friction pullies, or otherwise.
One example of the Invention is illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing, in which Figure 1 shows an elevation of a carriage having a
spiral spring applied as a motive power, although it will be understood
that the mode of transmitting motion will vary according to the nature
of the application; Figure 2 is a plan of the vehicle, while Figures 3
and 4 show a longitudinal and transverse section respectively of the
barrel containing the spiral spring. In these Figures the same letters
indicate like parts.
a, carriage or vehicle on which is mounted the apparatus for producing
the motive power, or instead of a carriage it might be applied to a
balloon, boat, machine, or other apparatus; b, metal barrel or cylinder
containing, 1st, an interior lining c held in place by metallic ribs d;
2ndly, the spiral spring f of steel or other material which is to act as the
motor. The barrel b is provided with a toothed wheel g which gears
with a pinion h keyed to the axis i. On axis i is also fixed a grooved

page_text: fly wheel j, which serves to regulate the action of the apparatus and
communicates motion by means of an endless band k, shown in red lines,
to the pulley l, and consequently to the axle m of the vehicle. The
vehicle is steered by means of the lever handle n, when the vehicle is
required to move backwards the band k is crossed, as shown by the
green lines in the Drawing. The barrel with its double casing and the
spiral spring motor are shown in detail at Figures 3 and 4. Two, three,
four, or more of these spiral springs are contained in one or more barrels
made of the requisite strength to prevent their breaking while retaining
sufficient elasticity. The springs may be disposed in groups, one beside
the other, or superposed. These springs are fitted on a common axis, on
which they are simultaneously coiled or uncoiled and act all in the same
direction, being held by a single catch. By disposing a number of
springs in the same barrel an increase of power may be readily obtained.
Brakes, pawls, and ratchets or other equivalents may be disposed for the
purpose of regulating the speed or stopping the motion.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
application of coiled springs in the manner described as a motive power
for imparting motion to all kinds of machinery, also to velocipedes,
invalids' chairs, vehicles, balloons, and other aerial apparatus, also for
propelling vessels and submarine apparatus.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of Novem-
ber, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-cight.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)