IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
PAUL MARIE DARLU, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eighth day of June
One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the eleventh year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Paul Marie Darlu, my exors, adñors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that 1, the said Alexander
Paul Marie Darlu, my exors, admiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the
said Alexander Paul Marie Darlu, 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, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Alexander
Paul Marie Darlu, should cause a particular description of the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and imme-
diately 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, I, the said
Alexander Paul Marie Darlu, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, that is to say:
NEW APPLICATION OF CHAMBERS WITH VALVES TO MACHINERY FOR OBTAINING
MOTIVE POWER BY MEANS OF GASES.
.
These apparatuses are grounded upon a system of light valves applied to
chambers of every shape and capacity. These chambers are submitted either
to the action of the variation of temperature under the atmospheric influence,
or to the steam or all other gaseous agents.
Every kind of light valves whatsoever, provided that its effect be sure, is
suitable for the working of these apparatuses. I give hereafter the Specifica-
tion of the valve, the most simple of which I have used with advantage.
SPECIFICATION.
D (Drawing No. 1, Figure 1,) is a socket of metal the upper part of which
is well straightened according to a vertical plan to its shaft, the lower part
prepared to be soldered to a pipe of communication (seen at Drawing I, I,
Figure 2, which is a vertical section), or to the working chamber, and then it a
may be widened (see the Figures 1st and 2nd, Drawing 1st, second vertical
sections). M, (Drawing No. 1, Figure 1st, Section Figure II.,) moveable
piece of the valve composed of a ring with open spaces under the form of a
dog's collar, and a second ring inside, not very high, intended to fix inwardly
against the dog's collar an impermeable diaphragm made of either an ox or
pig's bladder, india-rubber, gutta percha, or any other similar material not
liable to adhere. The diaphragm is stretched similar to the parchment of a
tambourin; the moveable piece to which it belongs is placed as it is seen,
Figure 1st, Drawing 1st, and acts with facility. The diaphragm may be
replaced by a thin metallic botton, under which it is necessary to place as
washer of leather not adhesive. Two guides g (Drawing 1st) cross each other
above the moveable piece, and complete the system of valve. A valve with a
diaphragm on a large diameter, in order to bear the atmospheric pression,
should be supposed, with a grating placed in the interior a little beneath the
straitened upper level of the moveable piece, and on a parallel with the g
diaphragm. The object of the grating would be to prevent the breaking of
the bladder. The two double guides, bent at the top, descend and are soldered

page_text: the opening of the cylinder corresponding to the pipe T is closed; but the
key has been applied on the openings of the cylinder and afterwards bored so
as to correspond with the opening in communication with the pipe T. When
the key is turned from left to right, so that the opening that corresponded
with T be in contact with the orifice of the generator G, in this position the
communication with the tuyere is closed, and the steam going through the
interior of the key, Drawing II., Figure VI., escapes by the pipe T into the
receiver R. If, in the position that placed the generator in communication
with the twyere, the key had been turned from right to left a quarter round,
or if, in the other position considered, the key had been continued to be turned
from left to right by another quarter, it is evident that the generator would be
completely closed; it is its position at rest. As for the cock transmitting to
the reservoir D, i.e. that by which the water of the reservoir flows, if it is
closed the above cylinder that is included in the same copper body is equally
closed, because the key which is in common with this double cylinder is doubly
open on the same side. The lower end of the pipe A, Figure II., Drawing III.,
dips in F by its valve in a well or reservoir of water.
DRAWING IV.
This Drawing, Figure 1st, represents a small apparatus of a chamber of
condensation c, placed upon reservoir R.; this last communicates to c by a
box g, surmounted by a pipe P, which descends rather below the bottom of the
A float F may
box g under the pipe P, well straightened at its inferior end.
be added, c; see the vertical section of this piece, Drawing III., Figure V.;
this float F, (same plate, Figure VI.,) is furnished with three or four rings,
through which pass in guides (same Plate, Figure V.,) the float is either of
cork or light wood, and is covered with leather or any other elastic materials.
that is to be applied against the well-straightened end of the small tube P in
the box g. The valve S, Plate IV., Figure 1st, is intended to reject the con-
densation water, or that that may have found its way in the condensator,
especially if the float has been neglected. This expulsion of water takes place
when the steam comes in by the pipe T, blows the air by the valves S, causing
pressure, or when the cock R¹ is opened, if the number of the valves is
increased, the valve S is the one preferable to be increased. The lower hole,
into which fits a large tube straightened and closed by a plate with leather
fixed by screws and nuts similar to those of Drawing II., of the boxes c and c¹,
Figure I., is necessary if the float is admitted so as to place and examine this
last piece, the number of the valves may be augmented, for I said that it might
be taken, and encrease the diameter of the light valves of which the construc-

page_text: A reservoir I is kept immersed, (Drawing IIII. Figure 1 and 3,) a box with
a plate B provided with leather closes it hermetically, but allows when it is
opened to regularise the working of the interior valve S or of the valves; a
pipe fitted with its grating c¹ directs the water by the valves (they must be
proof) into the immersed reservoir 1, as long as the cock R" (Figure II.) is
opened; that the apparatus may work, the cock R must be carefully shut, R",
as also the cock R. When issue is given to a certain quantity of steam by
the pipe T, Drawing IIII., Figure II., the air inclosed in the cylinder C is
forced to pass by the valve S in the upper cylinder, and when all the air
between the lower cylinder will have passed in the other, the pressure
occasioned in the pipe P, r, will be about two atmospheres at the beginning
of the ascention of the water; it is supposed that the two cylinders jointed
together to be of the same dimension.
The pipe P, r, would appear to be inserted to the cylinder C, but it only
communicates with the above chamber. Under the new pressure of the water
contained in the immersed cylinder I will raise the valve p, p, of the ascension
pipe A, and will empty itself in the reservoir E; if the elevation of the opening
of the emptying pipe A does not allow the column of ascending water to
empty itself in E as soon as the condensation of the steam in C will have
produced a vacuum in that cylinder, and that the external air will have raised
by the valve box C to fill the capacity of the reservoir of air, it will suffice to
give again issue to a certain quantity of steam by the pipe T, and the air newly
introduced passes again in the upper cylinder where the pressure will be the more
intense than the operation I have specified will have been repeated. It would

page_text: be seen that the water that filled the immersed reservoir I is entirely emptied
in E, when air alone issues by the ascention pipe A; then in opening the cock
I will again filled through the grating C¹ in passing by the valve in the
immersed reservoir, and when no air will be issued by the cock r" it is to bo
closed, for I will be full of water. The pressure may be renewed by other.
introduction of steam in the manner specified above.
The cock R will empty the cylinder C of the condension water there
deposited, for the air will return by the valves inclosed in the boxes C of
which the section is marked in the Drawing II., Figure II.; these valved boxes
are in communication with the cylinder C, by means of their plates or covers
provided with screws as Drawing II., Figures I. and II., and these plates are
perforated in their centre and soldered by these apertures to pipes equally
soldered to the cylinder C, which they cross to nearer the half of its diameter.
On the Drawing IIII. the three great upper tubes p, Figure II., are
intended for the placing and examination of the valve S; their plates are
provided with leather, and closed with screws and nuts.
DRAWING V.
Drawing V., Figure 1st, vertical section of an apparatus, and similar to that
of Drawing IV., Figure 1st, with this difference, that the Drawing IV. indi-
cates the pipe T as communicating directly to a steam generator. When
for the Drawing V. the pipe T is the tuyere itself that blows out in the
sedentary fire pumps the steam after its useful result here, as may be seen in
the sections of Figure 1st, Drawing V., the tuyere marked T instead of issuing
in to open air the steam introduces it in the chamber or cylinder C, from
whence it forces by the valve S, S, and S', the air therein contained, and
successively also the air contained in the reservoir R and the pipe A. The
contact of the steam with the water which has penetrated in the pipe A by its
valve (Drawing III., Figure II.,) condenses it, and the vacuum although
imperfectly but sufficient to produce the ascension of the water in air if it is
sufficient to have an elevation equivalent to two thirds or underneath of the
atmospheric pressure. In the vertical section of the Drawing V. will be
found also the section of the piece represented by Figures V. of the
Drawings III., the same which is dotted, Drawing IIII., Figure 1st, as also
the box, for placing and examining the flattener F.
The TIL

page_text: air warmed by the steam issues by all the valves; during this issue the
resistance experienced by the jet of steam is not infinitely superior to that of
the atmosphere, for it is only augmented by the trifling weight of the moveable
pieces of the valves, and that weight specially, if the diameter of the passage of
these valves is augmented, is so insignificant enough to be neglected. Besides,
they are also in multiple number of the jet of steam of a greater diameter, and
the space of time of the issue of the air is very short. When r¹ will be opened
so as to supply with water for condensation, passing through watering spout
perforated with small holes which is at the end of the pipe of the funnel E,
covered with a grating, the water will penetrate in C. Then the condensation
operating, the vacuum will augment the force of the piston nearly a quarter,
according to the tension of the steam; the capacity of the cylinder of the
chamber C must be in accordance with the quantity of steam injected by the
tuyere T, the greater that capacity will be the longer the air will be issuing,
but that space of time will always be very short, and the duration of the
augmentation of the force of the engine will be the more prolonged, but little
by little; new air will accumulate in cylinder C, which will be heated and will
augment, although in small proportion, the tension, however, always less to the
atmospheric pression. To exclude this renewed air it will suffice to close
momentarily the cock less than a minute.
With my valved chambers the condensators may be used without their
pumps, but the most simple application is that of my condensator, without
injected water, the waste of force resulting from the passing into the free air
of the steam which has operated on the piston is generally allowed, in conse-
quence of the great quantity of water which is required to condensate steam.
Let us suppress the funnel E. Drawing V., Figure III., and let us prolong the
metallic cylinder C, or let us multiply that apparatus in form of great valved
pipes communicating together in the proportion of the abundance of steam
rejected by the piston, there is a term where the deperdition of caloric will be
naturally on the sides of the cylinder or condensation cylinders placed at the
free air outside the engine, and that deperdition of caloric will be the more
rapid in winter or raining times, the more so if the apparatus is surrounded
with coarse cloth which will be moistened by air, or that can be wetted from
time to time with a hand pump. The economy which will be acquired in such
a state by the augmentation of force of the engine, or by the diminution of the
combustion, will repay a hundred times the expense of that additional chamber.
The valves S will be multiplied as much as possible, and it will be advan-
tageous to give them a diameter at least equal to that of the tuyere T. It is
well to remind that by not using injected water for condensation, the air that the

page_text: cold water keeps in a state of solution is prevented from entering into the cylinder.
This application allows making use again of the lost steam, by directing
the same to the exterior chamber of condensation only after it has circulated
in a wide tuyere to warm workshops and apartments, and even to warm water
in an empty space left between the tuyere and closed pipes circumscribed from
distance to distance around the steam pipe. The shape of the Figure IV. of
the Drawing V. is fit to be adapted to steam boats, save a lengthening of the
cylinder in proportion with the abundance of the rejected steam; but in these
constructions the tuyere acts as a blower for the furnace in going out by the
chimney. I propose, if this apparatus cannot be replaced entirely, to apply
the steam alternatively with the working of the valved chambers; in order to
obtain such a result, it is sufficient to construct the slide valve, which serves
usually to open and shut ad libitum the passage of the steam the moment it makes
its egress from the pistons, so that in the first instance this passage be entirely
intercepted. When it is required to stop the engine, then by pushing more or
less the rods connected to the slide, the passage leading to the tuyere enclosed
in the chimney opens itself, and at the same time is stopped. As respects
the tube T, in fact when the passage will be opened for the tube T it will be
shut for the tuyere of the furnace. The numbers 1, 2, 3, of the Figure II.,
Drawing VI., represent this slide, seen in section under the three positions
above mentioned (see Drawing VI., Figure II.); 1st, number one, a slide
closing at the same time two alternative tuyeres T and T', by means of two
pistons adapted to the same rod (stoppage of the engine); secondly, same
Figure, number two, the middle space between the two pistons opposes only
the rod to the steam, and lets the same escape through the tuyere of the
chimney. When T remains shut, and in the third position, same Figure,
number three, T is free, and T' is closed.
APPLICATION ON THE COMPRESSED AIR FOR THE DIRECT PROPULSION OF VESSELS.
Let us consider an apparatus of the kind represented Figure 2, Drawing IV.,
either the pipe T will come from a generator of steam, if there is no engine
with pistons or any other, or such pipe will come from the boiler; if the vessel
is supplied with an engine it would be impossible to apply the wasted steam
for the intended purpose without lessening the power of the pistons. It is for
that reason that the apparatus above described is to be considered as inde-
pendent from the steam taken after it has produced its useful effect. This
steam can act on an apparatus similar to the one represented, Drawing V.,
Figure IV., and the steam of the boiler taken directly drive back the
pulsing air

page_text: In an apparatus of a greater dimensions than the one represented,
Drawing IV., Figure II., T will be provided with a cock to throw at with the
steam in C. The upper reservoir, lateral or lower, intended to receive the air
injected by the steam, should be the more less than C, according to the velocity
intended to impart to the vessel. In other words, it is intended to make the
air reservoir C large enough for doubling, trepling, multiplying, as it may
suit,
in the superior reservoir, quantities of air that will procure two, three, &c.
atmospheric pressures. There will be two pipes P, r, Drawing IV., Figure II.,
I remind that on this last Drawing P, r, dipping from the top of the
cylinder C, is only in communication with the upper capacity, at the bottom of
which it is soldered. It does not in any way communicate with the interior of
the chamber C; the two pipes P, r, P, r, starting from the upper reservoir are
directed in straight line on each side of the ship, and issue under the water at
the point marked above, P, r, under the floating part of the vessel. It would
be advantageous to increase as much as possible the valves of communication
between the two reservoirs (see these valves placed in the upper reservoir,
Drawing IV., Figure II.); the boxes C', C', may be made as they are seen,
same Drawing and Figure, and be as numerous as the valves which have just
been mentioned. The strength of these apparatuses must be calculated on the
expansive force that they might have to contain on a maximum.
APPLICATION TO LOCOMOTIVES.
The impossibility to load the tenders with a large quantity of water obliges
to adopt on railways the cylinder without injection of cold water, analogous to
what has been said at the end of the description of the Drawing V. It is indi-
cated, Drawing VII., Figure 1st, letter T, the direction that the conduct of
the steam must take under the locomotive; its starting point is that that is
marked, (Drawing V., Figure 1V.,) being the description of the slide serving
for alternative employment of the steam lost in steamers. The second tuyere T
comes between the two conducts of water of the tender to rise in the same
reservoir; it is intended to prolong the tender without loading it materially.
As the condensing valve is rather light, and contains only steam or air
in the prolonged tender, the apparatus lies in part in the middle of the water
that surrounds it and heats the water in the tender; by cooling the apparatus
the valves are above, as in the Figure IV. of the Drawing V., and the valve S¹
is below the pipe T, as may be seen, Drawing VI., Figure 5, and Drawing VII.,
Figure 1, S. The dimension of the valve chamber in this last case ought
to be great.

page_text: THE PNEUMATICAL REMONTEUR.
The Drawing VIII. represents this application. M is the moveable plate;
F, the fixed one; between them, at equal distance, frames are connected by a
cover similar to forge bellows. The moveable plate and the intermedial frame
are supported by cords stretched on beams above. The whole is surrounded
with impermeable canvass; all the openings are carefully closed; this is casily
done, in consequence of the isolated position of this moteur; from the moveable
frame chains are united to the drawing-up chain, which is turned on the
rollers L, (Drawing VII., Figure IV., and Drawing VIII., Figure 1,) and
these rollers set in action the dented wheel d (same Drawings and Figures)
by their catches when they are subservient to the descendant weigh rollers and
catches, because two remonteurs may be put in action by the same valved
apparatus, so that one weight may ascend when the other exercises its power.
There would then be two remonteurs, two weights, two rollers, but one iron
fixed axis with the dented wheel d. The fixed plates F are to be carefully
fixed. The pipe T (Drawing III., Figure 1,) is conducted to an apparatus
established on a large scale of the same kind as the one seen on the same
Drawing, provided with a pipe A or a reservoir E, (Drawing V., Figures III.
and IV.,) so as to operate more expeditiously by the condensation, and empty
over the air remonteurs by their boxes c' (Drawing VIII., Figure 1). Besides
the cock the plate F should have a large desk, Drawing VII., Figure II.,
formed by a frame or inclined plan, and of a plate covered with leather with
hinges, to be opened by a small crane should the cock r not supply air enough
for its entry. During the operation of remounting, this cock and the desk are
to be hermetically closed. Should momentarily a great power be required.the
two sets of simultaneous weights may be lowered; the regulating fly wheels
are not necessary, because the re-entry of the air may be regulated cither by
the cock (Drawing VIII., Figure 1), or by the desk (Drawing VII.,
Figure II.) This is applied to the back of the fixed plate F (Drawing VIII.,
Figure 1st.
This application must be usefully applied to turning mills or
any other apparatus put in motion by a turning tree. It is stated above that
steam may be taken directly as a generator of whatever description,
(Drawing III., Figure 1st,) but it also may be applied to put in action by the
pneumatical remonteur the steam both in the apparatus now used after its
first effect on the piston. The pipe marked T on the Figures of the first
Drawings coming from the twyere of a fire engine, will direct the steam on the
reservoir C, (Drawing VIII., Figure 1st,) thus obtaining a second agent,
supplied merely by the steam lost in the fixed engines which ejects it without
advantage after the acting of the pistons.

page_text: The pneumatical remonteur may be easily transformed in a press by a very
simple process, consisting by tying the traction chain of the moveable plate to
other chains attached to frames disposed so as to transmit pressure. We
detail in this note that the economical application of our valved apparatuses to
atmospheric railroads, the boxes c', (Drawing VIII., Figure 1st,) instead of
withdrawing the air from the remonteur, as it is seen in the Drawing VIII..
would aspire it from the tubes in which the pistons play with more rapidity
than aspiring pumps.
To resume, my Invention consists,―
Firstly, in the application of light valved chambers to gaseous agents without
addition of pumps and pistons, and in my above specified valve.
Secondly, in the application of these simple apparatuses to hydraulics either
by aspiration or insufflation.
Thirdly, in utilising the wasted steam of the fire engines to augment the
power, or lessen the expence by means of valved chambers with or without
injection of water.
Fourth, in the application of compressed air by insufflation for the direct
propulsion of ships.
Fifthly, in the apparatus specified under the demomination of pneumatical
remonteur agent totally exempt of all complication.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Paul Mario Darlu, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this 8th day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.